Cancer care support hub: your guide to services and support in Milton Keynes
All image credits: Centre for Ageing Better
From information on different types of cancer treatment, to practical advice on finances, this is your cancer care hub: a list of all the organisations who are waiting to help you.
Are you currently having treatment for cancer?
If so, would you be able to spare a few minutes to tell us about your journey so far?
We understand that a cancer diagnosis can be one of the most difficult things to hear. Cancer treatment can feel relentless, and the entire experience can deeply affect the whole family.
That's why we're working hard to highlight to our Integrated Care System where cancer services in Milton Keynes could be improved, and the barriers that people are facing when getting cancer treatment.
Your voice as a cancer patient, or as a carer for someone with cancer, is important and valuable. Your feedback can help us to make meaningful, practical changes that can make all the difference to cancer patients in Milton Keynes.
Cancer support in Milton Keynes
Al’s Pals is a service that supports patients and their families in hospital and at home. They offer support, companionship, empathy and a listening ear to any cancer patient or loved one from the start of their cancer journey through to the end.
Breast and gynaecological cancer support group for people in Milton Keynes. They run events, visit hospitals, reassure patients and support their carers, families and close friends.
Macmillan Deaf Cancer Support Project led by a Deaf team, providing virtual emotional and practical support to Deaf people experiencing Cancer. They offer online weekly support groups, 1:1 emotional support, advocacy and information signposting.
MK Cancer Patient Partnership Facebook Group
Founded by the MKCPP - an independent charitable organisation - this is a group for patients, carers health professionals and everyone with a connection to cancer, its treatment and rehabilitation in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas to come together and:
- Be in touch with health professionals
- Be in touch with all facilities available in the area
- Find and join cancer support groups
- Discover local cancer and cancer-related charities
- Share ideas
- Share best practice
- Exchange news and views
- Ask questions
- Find cancer information
- Start discussions
- Signpost to new topics
- Share national cancer news
...and anything else that may help patients and professioanls to work together to make patients' cancer journeys as comfortable as possible.
Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or are living with lymphoma, Lymphoma Action will support you and your family from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.
Leukaemia Care MK Support Group
Whether you are a patient or a carer, Leukaemia Care MK are dedicated to ensuring that anyone affected by blood cancer receives the right information, advice and support.
MK Prostate Cancer support are here to support you and your loved ones. Find out about your risk, learn about possible signs and symptoms, and get all the information you need on treatment and support if you're newly diagnosed or living with prostate cancer
The Henry Allen Trust help children who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their families. They offer all-round support including counselling, advice, care/toy packs, treats and more. Their aim is to help you find happiness with your family at a time of pain.
General cancer resources
The Cancer Care Map is a great resource signposting results for organisations supporting people with cancer in Milton Keynes.
www.miltonkeynescab.org.uk/help-for-people-with-cancer/
Citizens Advice MK advisers help hundreds of people every year to access financial support and advise them on:
- Welfare Benefits
- Money and finances
- Housing
- Energy Bills
- Problems at work
Nationwide cancer support organisations
The UK’s leading bowel cancer charity.
Support services, trusted breast cancer information and specialist nurses, ready to support you whenever you need it.
www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/lung-cancer
Advice for lung cancer: Asthma and Lung UK/ British Lung Foundation.
Types of cancer, treatments, causes of cancer, coping with cancer.
Free, expert gynae cancer information service.
Comprehensive advice and information on cervical cancer.
Types of Cancer A-Z, treatment drugs A-Z, online community forums, help to manage the physical, emotional, and financial side of cancer.
Comprehensive advice and information on pancreatic cancer.
Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and support for testicular cancer.
Downloads
You can download a short information leaflet from the Mid-Bedfordshire Cancer Support Group and the NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Cancer Patient Forum. It contains advice for the early days of diagnosis that you might find helpful.
Some useful facts
- The four most common types of cancer are lung, breast, prostate and bowel. Find out more about different types of cancer on the NHS website or ask your cancer team.
- Cancer can spread. The first place where the cancer appears is called the primary site. If cells break away from the first site and settle in another part of the body, this is called secondary or metastatic cancer.
- Cancer is measured in stages. Stage 1 cancer is small and contained at the original site. At Stage 2, it is larger and might have spread to lymph nodes. At Stage 3 it is larger still and has spread to lymph system and perhaps other body tissue. At Stage 4 it has settled in a second organ (secondary cancer).
- Advanced cancer usually means the cancer is incurable. There is lots that can be done to make the person’s remaining time more comfortable and make sure their wishes are followed.
- Cancer survival has doubled in the past 40 years. Today 50% of people with cancer will live with the condition for more than 10 years. Survival rates vary a lot depending on the type of cancer.*
- As a long-term condition, cancer produces different challenges. Living with illness over extended time makes it hard to manage day-to-day practicalities such as staying in work.
- New treatments are being tested all the time. If you’re interested in taking part in a trial, talk to your doctor.
*Figures from Cancer Research UK/ cancercaremap.org with thanks
Milton Keynes University Hospital Cancer Centre
Milton Keynes Cancer Centre brings together under one roof all hospital cancer services. It offers oncology, clinical haematology and cancer-related chemotherapy services, inpatient and outpatient services alongside a wellbeing support service.
It provides a dedicated space offering treatment and a wide range of information and support services to anyone affected by cancer, and patients’ families.
Cancer Centre facilities include:
- Outpatient consultation rooms, procedure rooms and a specialist treatment rooms.
- A 24-bed inpatient ward (16 single en-suite rooms) including two two-bed bays and a four-bed assessment bay.
- Chemotherapy Suite.
- Irene Crosswell Macmillan Wellbeing Lounge.
- Holistic support and group therapy wellbeing rooms.
- 11 clinic rooms.
- Quiet rooms and family visiting rooms, a landscaped garden and artwork.
Within the Wellbeing Lounge, which offers information and support in the Cancer Centre, there is a group activity room, a therapy studio for patient clinic appointments and an information lounge. The wellbeing team includes a physiotherapist, dietitian and psychologist who work within the lounge alongside nurses in supporting patients, assisted by volunteers who offer a listening ear.
A link corridor has been constructed between the Cancer Centre and the main hospital building for patients, visitors and staff to use.
Cancer Centre Help Line
The hospital run a Patient Help Line for patients to use regarding questions and queries about Cancer Services, and concerns about COVID and how it impacts their appointments or treatment. The helpline is open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
01908 997 634
Milton Keynes: the health of our city
Read the latest data on the health of Milton Keynes, including prevalence of cancer and long-term conditions, areas of deprivation, mortality, and children and young people.
