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St Neots resident Francis Boyden shares how talking to Macmillan helped his family cope after his wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
“When my wife was diagnosed with a brain tumour, the Macmillan team and trust staff at Hitchinbrooke hospital were tremendously thoughtful, understanding and supportive. Sadly my wife passed away in July. I don’t know how I could have coped without Macmillan.
I also used the Macmillan Support Line. They put me on the right track for benefits that my wife was entitled to. They sent us the forms and helped to fill them in. It was great to have someone to talk to when the nurse was not around.
“You realise you’re not alone”
I will be forever grateful for the support we had from Macmillan. You may think you can do it on your own but without their support, I don’t not know what I or my family would have done.”
Cambridge resident Caroline Lloyd- Evans felt isolated after undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer.
“When I was going through all the treatment six years ago, I was desperate to get support from others who were experiencing the same things I was. It can be particularly isolating as a head and neck cancer patient, being unable to speak or swallow.
“I was desperate to get support from others who were experiencing the same things I was.” - Caroline
Patients of this cancer type may lose their tongue or part of their jaw. The uncertainty of what’s further down the road can leave you fearful of the future. Head and neck cancers are rare, the treatments are intense and side-effects such as saliva loss difficult to manage. As a patient this can be very lonely and frightening indeed.
Thanks to a grant from Macmillan, I helped establish a Head and Neck Support Group. The group offers a supportive environment allowing time to talk with others who have been affected by Head and Neck cancer. This creates an environment for the person who may initially be feeling isolated with their diagnosis to feel free to contribute to discussion and express feelings and share concerns. We also share tips with each other, as others further down the line may have encountered the same issues.
Your local Macmillan team. If you are interested in hearing more about the Cambridge
Head and Neck Cancer Support Group or
would like to volunteer, please contact:
Louise McAvoy, Macmillan Involvement Co-ordinator on
07713 084 790 or lmcavoy@macmillan.org.uk
We provide a local Macmillan Information and Support Service in Peterborough City Hospital. Haematology/Oncology Unit, Edith Cavell Campus, Bretton Gate, Peterborough PE3 9GZ.
Tel: 01733 673 118 Open Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm.
We offer a wide range of high quality information in a confidential and informal environment. Call us free on:
0808 808 00 00
(Mon to Fri, 9am-8pm)
or visit www.macmillan.org.uk