Support for patients and their carers following a cancer diagnosis is vital.

This can be done in different ways:

  • By your hospital team
  • A national or local cancer charity
  • A support group – talking to other patients and carers either face to face, virtually or via an online forum.

It doesn’t matter where this support comes from or by whom. What matters is that you and your family and friends get the right help and support at the right time and in the right way.

There are several charities within Northumberland and North Tyneside that can help to support you following a cancer diagnosis, during and after treatment.  These are:

Coping with Cancer North East – Coping with Cancer North East supports people with emotional, mental, social and physical health issues so that they can focus on living their best life. Coping with Cancer North East offers auricular acupuncture, complementary therapies and counselling services. In addition, they have a drop-in every Friday, 3-4pm, for general advice and support.

For more information, visit Welcome To Coping With Cancer | Cancer Support Across The North East

FACT – Fighting all cancers together – FACT offers support to patients and their families/friends in a non-clinical setting.  FACT can offer you the following:

  • Practical help & support as well as managing side effects to treatment
  • Social and exercise opportunities
  • Counselling – for anyone who has been affected by cancer. This can be face to face, online or by telephone.

For more information, please visit their website: https://fact-cancersupport.co.uk

Live Well with Cancer – Based in North Tyneside, Live Well with Cancer aims to enable people to live life fully with and beyond a cancer diagnosis. Their focus is to empower people through self-help, mutual support and signposting to local services. Live Well with Cancer delivers workshops, hosts events and has exercise programmes that can be adapted to all levels of fitness. 

For more information, visit https://www.livewellwithcancer.co.uk

Maggie’s Newcastle – Based in the grounds of the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle. Maggie’s Newcastle offers drop in sessions as well as planned activities to meet your needs. Maggie’s also run a variety of support groups alongside workshops on many different aspects of care including, managing ongoing fatigue and anxiety and coming to the end of treatment – what next? 

For more information, visit https://www.maggies.org

Mind and Sole - A health and wellbeing group based in Alnwick. They offer many services, such as walking and talking sessions, and host a cancer support group. For more information, visit https://www.mindandsolealnwick.com

Support groups in the area

Coping with Cancer

  • Cramlington Support Group, The Woodruff Centre, Apex Business Village, Annitsford, NE23 7BF. 

Afternoon Session: Held on the last Thursday of the month, 12pm to 2.30pm, from Thursday, 25 April.

Evening Session: Held on the first Thursday of the month, 4.30pm to 6.30pm, from Thursday, 11 April.

  • Hexham Support Group, The County Hotel, Priestpopple, Hexham, NE46 1PS.

Held on the first Wednesday, alternate months. Starting from Wednesday, 3 April.

  • Haltwhistle Support Group, Haltwhistle Community Hub, Mechanics Institute, NE49 0AX.

Held on the second Friday, alternate months. Starting from Friday, 10 May.

For more information, visit Welcome To Coping With Cancer | Cancer Support Across The North East.

Live Well with Cancer

  • Bowel Cancer Support Group: Held monthly. Second Friday every month from 11am to 12.30 pm
  • Breast Cancer Support Group: Held monthly. Fourth Monday each month from 7pm to 8.30pm
  • Lung Cancer Support Group: Held fortnightly.  Second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 11am to 12.30pm

For more information, email info@livewellwithcancer.co.uk 

​​​Maggie’s Newcastle hosts several support groups, dates and times vary.  For more information contact Maggies on 0191 233 6600 or email newcastle@maggies.org

Mesothelioma support groups

  • Washington, first Tuesday of every month, Woodridge Gardens, Washington.
  • Darlington Hallgarth Hotel, first Tuesday of each month.
  • Virtual Group, second Tuesday of each month.
  • Seaburn Grand Hotel, third Tuesday of each month.

For more information, contact the mesothelioma clinical nurse specialist team.

North Northumberland Cancer Support Group

Cancer Support Group | Mind and sole (mindandsolealnwick.com)

Meets on the third Monday of every month, 2.30pm – 3.30 pm. For more information, contact mindandsole1@gmail.com

Northumbria Healthcare breast reconstruction support group

For more information, contact the breast care team.