OTHER CANCERS

INFORMATION ON CANCER

CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS

CANCER LIFE STORIES

Information on Cancer

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.

1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime.

Our members have found the following page on cancer useful.

Cancer Charities

Safeena

Safeena

Safeena is a Muslim Cancer Support Network We provide practical, educational, emotional support, and in particular, Islamic guidance’ for Muslims affected by cancer. Website: https://www.safeena.org.uk/  

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Can-Survive UK

Can-Survive UK

Can-Survive UK provides culturally sensitive support and information for people with cancer, their families and carers. For more information about our groups, services or projects, or you may want some advice or just need someone to talk to, please contact us, Monday...

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The Leanne Pero Foundation

The Leanne Pero Foundation

The Leanne Pero Foundation is a charity offering vital help, information and practical advice, primarily for people of colour cancer patients and cancer survivors.  We strongly feel no-one has to suffer in silence or feel isolated when faced with their personal cancer...

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The Robert Sinclair Davison Foundation

The Robert Sinclair Davison Foundation

The Robert Sinclair Davidson Foundation is a charity offering financial support to young couples and families who have been affected by life threatening and terminal illnesses. Website: http://www.therobertsinclairdavidsonfoundation.org/ Address: The Robert Sinclair...

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Something To Look Forward To

Something To Look Forward To

A charity website supporting people with cancer and their families to access a variety of gifts generously donated by people and companies. Website: https://somethingtolookforwardto.org.uk/ Address: 84 Coleridge Road, Cambridge, CB1 3PJ

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Shout – for support in a crisis

Shout – for support in a crisis

Shout is the UK’s first free 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Shout is powered by a team of volunteers, who are at the heart of the service. We take people from...

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Maggie’s Yorkshire

Maggie’s Yorkshire

If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Maggie’s Yorkshire can help. Offering free one to one help and information; a calming space to visit between appointments, join groups or activities. Maggie’s is opposite the Bexley Wing, St James...

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Macmillan Deaf Cancer Support Project

Macmillan Deaf Cancer Support Project

The Macmillan Deaf Cancer Support Project provides virtual emotional and practical support to Deaf people living with cancer across the UK. It also supports their carers, including Deaf people who are supporting a hearing person living with cancer....

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Macmillan

Macmillan

We’re here for everyone affected by cancer, their family and friends. Find support and advice, meet people who understand, get involved and help us be there. Here is a link to the Macmillan Cancer Forum: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/ Telephone: 0808 808 00 00...

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Look Good Feel Better

Look Good Feel Better

Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) is the only cancer support charity helping boost the physical and emotional wellbeing of people undergoing cancer treatment. Confidence boosting workshops are now offered online. LGFB also offer online tutorials and a Manual for Men....

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Live Through This

Live Through This

Live Through This is a cancer support and advocacy charity for the LGBTIQ+ community. Cancer can affect anyone but until now, the queer community has gone largely underrepresented and we want to change that. We provide a safe space for anybody who identifies as part...

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Learning Disability – Know your body

Ansar, Coppafeel and Orchid have joined forces to provide accessible resources for people with a learning disability called Know Your Body. Website: https://www.thera.co.uk/news/know-your-body-resources-launch/ Email:...

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Other useful Cancer resources

Find a Cancer Support Group

      Cancer Life Stories

      Paula’s story – Breast cancer

      Paula’s story – Breast cancer

      Breast cancer – it’s not just about the lumps and bumps   Former MP Paula Sherriff knows only too well that detecting breast cancer isn’t just about finding a lump. As a women’s health campaigner, Paula, is aware that any changes that are unusual and persistent,...

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      Trevor’s story

      Trevor’s story

      I went to my own wake – and it’s a night I will never forget When Bradford man Trevor Sugden was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, one of his first reactions was to ask his consultant what he could do to help. The retired contracts manager says that his positive...

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      Claire’s story

      Claire’s story

      I missed my smear test because of Covid –  Cancer Champion Claire Stewart talks about how her diagnosis with cervical cancer has led to her passion to raise awareness.   For busy mum of three Claire Stewart, missing out on a smear test didn’t seem the end of the...

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      Katie’s story

      Katie’s story

      Katie Storey I was always up to date with my smear tests and even remember ringing the GP just before turning 25 asking if they could book me in. All my smears were fine until I turned 31. My results following this showed as HPV positive - which by all accounts isn't...

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      Zoe’s story

      Zoe’s story

      Cancer Champion Carol Beardmore explains what motivates her to speak out about cervical cancer and campaign for better access to screening for people with learning disabilities and autism When there’s a problem some people walk away and some people roll up their...

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      Arzoo’s story – Young person’s cancer

      Arzoo’s story – Young person’s cancer

      Young cancer patient achieves her goal   A studious Dewsbury teenager missed more than a year’s worth of school when she was diagnosed with bone cancer, but still managed to achieve a First-Class Honours degree in Pharmacy when she graduated last year.  ...

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      Ric’s story

      Ric’s story

      Retired welding engineer Ric Myers from Leeds is passionate about raising awareness of lung cancer. Ric, who is a Champion with the Cancer SMART initiative which we run in partnership with the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Cancer Alliance, was keen to be interviewed...

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      David’s story – Kidney cancer

      David’s story – Kidney cancer

      When retired senior manager David Blunt spotted blood in his urine, he said he was a ‘typical man’ and ignored the signs. David, who lives outside Huddersfield in rural South Kirklees, first noticed the signs in February last year, but dismissed them as ‘just a drop...

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      Rob’s story

      Rob’s story

      Rob Husband almost lost his voice to cancer – before he found it again – this time as a patient advocate. In 2017, Rob, who lives in lovely countryside outside of Huddersfield, was living life to the full. He worked as a Contracts Manager in the construction industry....

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      Huma’s story

      Huma’s story

      Huma Akhtar was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when she was just 25-years-old. Here’s her story: “I noticed a swelling on my neck one day and arranged an appointment with my GP. He had a feel of my neck stated that I had an oversized thyroid gland, so he took some...

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      Mariam’s story

      Mariam’s story

      All her life, Mariam Jandad from Batley, has been used to pushing through barriers to achieve her goals. As a young schoolgirl, she wanted to pursue studies in interior design, but ended up going into a clothing factory, which was seen as acceptable work for a woman,...

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      Tracey’s story

      Tracey’s story

      Mother of two, Tracey knew something was wrong when she started to experience severe aches and pains and visited her GP. Tracey, who lives near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, spent 18 months visiting her GP surgery with various vague symptoms which included aches and...

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      Karen’s story

      Karen’s story

      Wakefield woman Karen Kilcommons spotted our flyer appealing for Cancer Champions and decided she would like to volunteer. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2018, Karen learned it had spread to her lymph nodes and liver, meaning she will be on...

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      Sandra’s story

      Sandra’s story

      Teacher Sandra Hudson is a terminal bowel cancer patient being treated at the Bexley Wing at St James’s in Leeds. She loved her job, but had to retire on ill health grounds. In January 2017 she had a prolapsed womb meaning that in April she had to have a hysterectomy....

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      Noel’s story

      Noel’s story

      During Lockdown I became reacquainted with a wonderful blog which proved the perfect antidote to the coronavirus craziness going on in the world. Stripey Anne’s Blog – the ramblings and rants about something and nothing is a delightful and joyful account by Anne...

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      Kate’s story – Bowel cancer

      Kate’s story – Bowel cancer

      One of the key messages of the Cancer SMART initiative, that we are currently delivering with West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, is to be aware of unusual and persistent changes to your body, and contact your GP if you are concerned. Kate Bartholomew, a...

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      Rian’s Story – Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

      Rian’s Story – Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

      Rian Harvey may only be 22-years-old but he is wise beyond his years. Positive, upbeat, inspirational…a young man on a mission to talk to as many people as possible about cancer and tackle a few myths in the process. That’s why he made a perfect guest for You...

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      Steve’s story – Gamers Beat Cancer

      Steve’s story – Gamers Beat Cancer

      “Let’s Have More Game On, Than Game Over” Being diagnosed with cancer is a lonely time. Receiving hospital treatment – often in isolation – leaves the patient disorientated and removed from contact with normal life. In March 2019, Steve Bracewell’s life was changed...

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      Jayne’s story – Lymphoma

      Jayne’s story – Lymphoma

      I am Jayne, I am 61 years old and live just outside Bradford in the village of Wilsden. I am a Keighley girl (If I can still be classed as a girl at my age?) and am a single parent to two girls, Lisa 40, who is married and lives in Keighley, with her husband Andrew...

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      Karen’s Story – Ovarian cancer

      Karen’s Story – Ovarian cancer

      Sunovary – a new group for Ovarian Cancer patients   Former NHS worker Karen Varley said her whole life has been ‘tinted’ by cancer – with her mum,  a grandparent and other relatives all receiving a cancer diagnosis. Karen who lives near Wakefield, was diagnosed...

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      Gill’s story – Ovarian cancer

      Gill’s story – Ovarian cancer

      Pet cat Humbug was the cat-alyst to get a GP check up  When ovarian cancer patient Gill Kelly’s story first appeared in her local newspaper, she became a media star overnight. “ A media frenzy broke out with local and national papers all wanting an interview as well...

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      Andrew’s story – Pancreatic cancer

      Andrew’s story – Pancreatic cancer

      A lifelong Grimsby Town fan is used to attracting stares thanks to the "daft" pink inflatable he always carries with him before games. Andrew Markham, 64, from Brigg, North Lincolnshire, greets fans heading to Blundell Park with the strange object. It is something he...

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      Janet’s story – Pancreatic cancer

      Janet’s story – Pancreatic cancer

      New adventures were beckoning for Janet Pawelec, who was looking forward to retiring from her stressful and demanding job managing an Ambulance Control Room in York to spend more quality time with her husband, a former paramedic. But before she had the chance to put...

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      Karen’s story – Pancreatic cancer

      Karen’s story – Pancreatic cancer

      Know your body and be aware of any changes that are unusual for you – that’s the message from Karen Stead as she recalls being diagnosed for pancreatic many years ago.   Back in 2010, she had been feeling ‘pretty rubbish’ and feeling sickly, severe abdominal...

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      Gordon’s story

      Gordon’s story

      A health check saved my life -Canon Gordon Dey    Retired Canon (Church official) Gordon Dey was moving house from one area of Bradford to another part of the city when he was called for a well man check. The check-up was part of the induction to join his new GP...

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      Owen’s story

      Owen’s story

      My story – Owen Davies   When my ‘Bloods’ results came back, and my brilliant new doctor told me there were a couple of things he wanted to check and probably rule out. A scan and a biopsy later, the specialist passed me onto the nurse at the Centre with the news...

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      Richard’s story

      Richard’s story

      I’ve had cancer twice – but I was very lucky they both could be treated when caught early Keen sportsman Richard Seddon arrived for our interview in Leeds on one of the hottest days of the year looking a picture of health despite having cycled 12 miles from his Yeadon...

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      Denton’s story

      Denton’s story

      When Sheffield man, Denton Wilson was recovering from prostate cancer treatment, he decided to grow his hair, as a symbol of getting back to good health. Now more than 20 years later, he has shaved off his dreadlocks to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.  Denton...

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      Kevin’s story – Skin cancer

      Kevin’s story – Skin cancer

      Stories of Cancer and Hope IT worker Kevin, an ambassador for Melanoma UK, has compiled stories from patients and their families about their experience of cancer.  He has compiled a book called Stories of Cancer and Hope, to bring hope and comfort to those living with...

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      James’s story – Oesophageal cancer

      James’s story – Oesophageal cancer

      On a road to self-destruction – before being diagnosed with cancer  Bradford man, James Barraclough was on a road to self destruction before his cancer diagnosis. Facing redundancy and a relationship breakdown and struggling to pay his mortgage, he began to depend...

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      Bob’s Story – Oesophageal cancer

      Bob’s Story – Oesophageal cancer

      A cancer journey  - seen through a lens   For passionate photographer and community artist Bob Clayden there was never any doubt about how he would make sense of a cancer diagnosis. When facing life’s difficulties, Bob from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, says he...

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      Nicola’s story

      Nicola’s story

      Referrals to cancer services were drastically reduced during lockdown as many patients decided to put off seeking help for health concerns until the pandemic was over. One Northallerton mother of three, is determined to do all she can, to raise awareness of the need...

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      Julie’s story – Breast cancer

      Julie’s story – Breast cancer

      Bradford mother of one, Julie Norman will be forever grateful to the NHS. During Covid-19 she was rapidly fast tracked by GP referral to diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. She’s telling her story because she’s aware that people stopped going to their doctors...

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