Supporting you

FORCE Cancer Charity

FORCE works locally to support anyone affected by cancer and will work closely with the people involved in your treatment. Find out more about the support FORCE can offer at forcecancercharity.co.uk.

Health and wellbeing clinics are also offered to patients with a diagnosis of cancer to help support them through their pathway. Your nursing team will be able to provide you with more information on the structure and content of these sessions.

Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF)

The ELF provides free counselling for patients with blood cancer and their relatives and carers. Find out more at elfcharity.org.uk. To book an appointment, please telephone 01392 402879.

Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF), funds one of our clinical nurse specialists and also funds a support worker, an aromatherapist and a part-time physio-technician.

Haematology

We offer support groups and various topics, please contact rduh.clinicalhaematology@nhs.net for more information.

Head and neck cancer 

Head and Neck Cancer Patient and Caregiver Support Groups are held monthly within Exeter and Barnstaple. 
Patient & Caregiver Group Monthly meeting 

Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the:

Grosvenor Community Church
Old Station Road
Barnstaple
EX32 8PB

Everyone Welcome
You can just drop in - ask for Jim Turner

For more information 
Email: info@theswallows.org.uk 
or Call: 01253 428 940

Exeter Support Group
 
Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of the Month from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the:
Victory Hall
Broadclyst
Exeter
EX5 3EE

No booking required.

Should you have any further questions you may contact:
Exeter Support Group Lead - Mr. Nick Badger
exetergroup@theswallos.org.uk 

The groups are led by patients, with support from Swallows.org.uk. Please contact 01392 402215 if you would like any further information

Paediatric cancer support

We understand how difficult a cancer diagnosis is for you and your family. Our team will support you and guide you to the appropriate resources.

Heather Rake (Young Lives vs Cancer social worker) will contact you to provide practical and emotional support.

Alongside our Clinical Psychologist, we are able to make referrals to FORCE, a cancer support and information centre in Exeter for patients and their loved ones who need physical, emotional, psychological and practical support. Contact: 01392 406151. 

Support Groups and social activities for teenagers and young adults with cancer:

Our TYA team of two nurses, Lorraine and Sophie support young people diagnosed between 16-24 years and those close to them for at least 2 years after the end of treatment. Providing psychosocial support – both emotional and practical, and signposting to relevant services such as Young Lives Social Work team.
TYA peer support group takes place approximately every 6 weeks. This is an opportunity to meet other young people who have experienced cancer, in a relaxed social environment.

A parents' support group takes place approximately every 3 months. This is an opportunity to meet other parents of young people in an informal setting. 

A bereaved parent support group takes place approximately every 3 months, giving the opportunity to meet other bereaved parents in a safe, supportive environment. 

End of Treatment Clinic’s take place approximately every 6 months. This is an opportunity for young people and those close to them to reflect on what they have been through, living with uncertainty and navigating life after treatment.

Young people have access to a wide variety of events and activities (including Teens Unite charity activities, sailing trips provided by the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust, the ultimate backstage experience at the Royal Albert Hall through Teenage Cancer Trust).

Encompass - helping you find your way

It can be hard to find the right support and advice, it’s even harder when you live in a rural location such as Devon. 

Encompass Southwest is a local charity based across North Devon, Torridge and West Devon offering free and confidential advice on a variety of issues.

Community helpline 

Encompass can provide telephone advice Monday to Friday 9.30 am – 3 pm on:

• Welfare
• Benefits
• Debt
• Budgeting
• Housing
• Mental Health support (via their partners at Mind in Somerset)

Please dial 01271 371499 and press option 1.

Don’t forget you can also find useful information on the Encompass website in the online advice section.

Encompass is based in Barnstaple at 2 Bear Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7BU but please note the office is not open to the public without a prior appointment.

​Wis£rmoney 

Visit the Wisermoney website to find out where your nearest project is, the projects can help with the following subjects:

• Money, benefits and debt advice
• Mental health training and support
• Financial education
• Workshops, training and events

Lower water tariffs

South West Water offer lower water tariffs for those using more water because of a medical condition and debt relief advice, payment plans and occasionally grants. 

Website: www.southwestwater.co.uk
Telephone: 0344 346 1010

‘Debt line’ Telephone: 0800  083 0283

Help with energy costs

361Energy provide free energy home check and help to switch provider, advice on grants, insulation options and benefits checking.

If you have a medical condition, and/or are living on a limited income you could be eligible for a Leap Funded free home energy efficiency check.

Website : www.361energy.org

Telephone : 01271 599361

North Devon Hospice

The North Devon Hospice supports patients with cancer and other long-term conditions. If you are affected by a life-limiting illness, there is a range of care and support available to you.

Visit their website for more information

Moving forward clinic and survivorship - Breast Cancer support

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the UK (1 in 8), the incidence of the disease has risen by 6% over the last 10 years, mortality rates have steadily fallen, and currently 80% of patients with early breast cancer have a projected survival of >10 years.  The number of patients living beyond a breast cancer diagnosis has steadily grown; there were estimated to be 500 000 breast cancer ‘survivors’ in the UK in 2010 but this number is expected to reach 2 million by 2040. Once surgery and any chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatments are complete, the traditional model of breast cancer follow-up of multiple routine hospital visits has largely been superseded by an ‘open access’ structure, focusing on supporting self-management and patient empowerment. To make such a service successful, it is suggested that each patient should receive a Recovery Package, consisting of the following components:

1. Cancer care review: review by a primary care practitioner within 6 months of a cancer diagnosis to ensure patients know what services are available to them, embedding the principles of self-management at an early stage.
2. End of treatment summary: outlines treatments completed and priorities for future care, including any planned surveillance (for example, annual mammograms) and advice on symptoms and signs that could indicate recurrence;
3. Health needs assessment: comprehensive questionnaire completed by the patient, including a concerns checklist, distress thermometer, and care plan;
4. Health and wellbeing events: group events that provide an opportunity for patients to be educated on issues such as how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and management of long-term consequences of cancer treatment.

These measures should enable rapid and appropriate self-management or self-referral back to a hospital breast unit, but it is also important that GPs are aware of the common problems and concerns affecting this population.

Moving Forward Breast Morning every 6 months Wednesday morning

Bosom Buddies 

A local support group for anyone affected by diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.  We meet together socially for mutual support, informal chat and a cup of tea, meetings with speakers and occasional social outings.

First Tuesday of every month (except January)
7pm at: Barnstaple Rugby Club, Pottington Road, Barnstaple, EX31 1JH
Further information
Email: bosombuddiesnorthdevon@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/bosombuddiesnorthdevon

Bude and Stratton Breast Cancer Support Group

‘We meet and chat over lunch or afternoon tea. So why not come and join us’.

For further information about the group and its activities call 01288 355737 or 01271 353854

Macmillan has an excellent package of advice to help you and your loved ones manage the impact of cancer, whether this is accessing support for financial worries, finding online events or accessing programmes to help with your overall health and wellbeing. 

If you want to be pointed in the right direction, or simply need someone to talk to, call the Macmillan Support Line today on 0800 808 00 00 or visit the Macmillan website.

This includes:

• Cancer information and support
• Financial help and money worries
• Welfare rights
• Work advice
• Wellbeing coaching
• SafeFit exercise advice
• Grants
• Will writing
• Telephone Macmillan Buddies

We are working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to help improve the experience of people living with and beyond cancer.

Personalised Care and Support Planning (PCSP) helps people living with cancer to take an active and empowered role in the way their care is planned and delivered, with interventions and care tailored around the things that matter most to them.

Find out more here

Local Macmillan support

Alongside this support, Macmillan also has representatives for your local area. They can be contacted either directly or via your closest hospital.

Northern services

Please contact the Fern Centre to make an appointment with our local Macmillan representative.

Your local Macmillan Financial Advisor for Torridge, North, Mid and West Devon can be contacted Monday, Tuesday and Thursday between 9.30 am and 5 pm via phone.

Telephone: 0845 894 9567

Eastern services

The following links will take you to further charities that can offer help and support.

Look good, feel better

Changing Faces 

British Association of Dermatitis 

You are a carer if you give any unpaid help and support to someone with cancer who could not manage without your help. This includes a partner, family member, friend or neighbour.

Being a carer for someone can mean:

• giving emotional support
• helping with everyday tasks
• driving them to appointments
• talking to other people on their behalf, such as health and social care professionals
• helping with personal care

When you’re looking after someone with cancer you might have extra needs such as financial or physical ones.

Perhaps you have had to give up work to care for someone or maybe you need a break from caring as things are getting too much. Whatever your situation, there is support available.

Visit Devon Carers for more information