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:
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://
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://
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://
Sarah’ Star - Based in North Tyneside, Sarah’s Star offers holistic, non-clinical support for people affected by incurable or life limiting illness, grief, or caring responsibilities. Based in the Linskill Centre, North Shields, the team provides a range of supportive services: therapy sessions, support groups, creative workshops and a safe space to talk about life and loss.
For more information, visit: www.
Support groups in the area
Live Well with Cancer
Live Well with Cancer hosts several support groups. Dates and times vary. For more information, visit www.
Maggie’s Newcastle hosts several support groups, dates and times vary. For more information contact Maggies on 0191 233 6600 or emailnewcastle
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, visit www.
Connecting through Cancer: Cramlington
Meets on the last Thursday of every month. 10.30am to 12.30 pm. Cramlington Town Council Offices, Manor Walks Shopping Centre.
For more information, Peer Support Group - Northern Cancer Voices
Cancer Support, Amble
Trinity Methodist Church, Amble. Last Wednesday of every month, 2pm to 4pm
Northumbria Healthcare breast reconstruction support group
For more information, contact the breast care team.
Prostate Support Group
Meets on the last Tuesday of every month, 1pm to 3pm. Age UK Northumberland, The Round House, Lintonville Parkway, Ashington.
Cancer Support Group, Alnwick
Lindisfarne Centre, 30 Lindisfarne Road, Alnwick. NE66 1AU. Third Wednesday of every month, 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
For more information, contact Jude on 07595 050152.
Northern Cancer Voices
Late Effects of Pelvic Radiotherapy – meeting monthly on the 2nd Monday of every month
At The Community Room (1st Floor), Tesco Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
For more information: Peer Support Group - Northern Cancer Voices
Connecting Through Cancer: Druridge Bay
Meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month, 11am-1pm, Druridge Bay Visitors Centre, NE61 5BX.
Berwick & District Breast Cancer Support Group (Berwick Cancer Cars)
Meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month 11am-1pm, 8 Tweed Street, Berwick upon Tweed. No parking at the venue, please park in the Castlegate car park and enjoy the 5-minute walk to the venue.
Cancer Peer Support Group Ashington
Meets on the last Wednesday of every month, 1pm to 2.30pm. Hirst Welfare, Ashington NE63 9HN.
Prostate Cancer Support Group (PCSG), Morpeth
Meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month, 6pm to 7pm. The Coffee Lounge, Morpeth Methodist Church, Howard Terrace, Morpeth.
Contact John for more information on 07719 570093.
Breast Cancer Now: Living with Secondary Breast Cancer
Meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, 11am to 1pm. Hirst Welfare Centre, Alexandra Road, NE63 9HN.
To register your place: https://
West Northumberland Cancer Support Group
Meets weekly on Mondays and Tuesdays 2pm to 4pm. Monday: Miners Lamp Café/Hub Eastwoods Park, Prudhoe NE42 5DX. Tuesday: Adapt (North East) Burn Lane, Hexham, NE46 3HN.
Sarah’s Star
Sarah’s Star hosts several support groups. Dates and time may vary. For more information, visit: Sarah's Star.
Other ways to support you and your family
Macmillan Buddies
Macmillan Cancer Support offer a telephone buddy service. They can offer a weekly telephone call from one of their trained Macmillan Buddies, for up to 10 sessions. For more information, visit Macmillan Buddies | Macmillan Cancer Support
The Roy Castle Lung Foundation offers a Keep in Touch Support Service which offers regular one-to-one phone support for individuals with a lung cancer diagnosis or their carers. Calls are fortnightly, with up to 12 sessions available. For more information. Visit Telephone support - roycastle.org. The charity also offers online support, held via Zoom. For more information, visit Online support - roycastle.org
Mesothelioma UK
In addition to their Asbestos & Mesothelioma Support North East Group, they offer online support for patients as well as their carers. For more information, visit Support Groups | Mesothelioma UK