You know and trust Macmillan for excellent palliative care. But did you know that most of the people we help today don’t need palliative care? And that we offer many other kinds of free support that you may be interested in for your patients?

Before, during and after cancerToday, people are coming to us for support before, during and, increasingly, after cancer.

They want to know more about a test for cancer they or someone in their family has been referred for. They’re looking to better understand a type of cancer that has been diagnosed. Sometimes they want help working out how to tell children or other family members about cancer.

People want to know more about treatment options, or coping with side effects. And of course, many are looking for emotional support, to help them cope.

Help with paying the bills is a particularly common reason for getting in touch with Macmillan. We can provide benefits advice when someone has to stop work to have treatment. We can also help with the extra costs that can come with cancer, like travel to a hospital far from home.

On the road back to health Importantly, we’re also helping more people as they return to good health. This is because it often takes time to adjust after a period of intense medical appointments.

Sometimes people say they feel lost. Many experience fatigue after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some struggle to come to terms with changes to their body. And going back to work may represent a welcome return to normality, but some people need advice on how to talk to their employer about taking it slowly at first.

Every patient is different, and so is every cancer journey. But by supporting your patients, we can help reduce anxiety between appointments, feel better prepared for consultations, and encourage them to look after themselves more.

By helping patients feel prepared, we can help you too.

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Are you mAking thE MOsT of us?

My local Macmillan information centre was a huge help for me and my family. They have helped us deal with the situation in the best way possible. They gave me Macmillan information booklets that helped me better understand my cancer and treatments I was having. I also used the Macmillan Support Line for quick and accurate answers to my questions - essential as I had no additional energy to search for these.’

Mary, living with cancer

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Sensitive, reliable information for your patients to read at homeWe have booklets on everything from diagnostic tests to hair loss to getting travel insurance with cancer.

Macmillan was a founding member of the Department of Health’s Information Standard Scheme so you can be confident that all the information we create is of the highest quality.

We test all information with experts, including people affected by cancer, to make sure it is sensitively written and easy to understand.

To order information for patients, go to macmillan.org.uk/patientsupport

Someone for patients to talk to from homeMany people want to talk to someone who isn’t emotionally involved, so they can say how they really feel, taking as much time as they need to.

Our Support Line team can do verbally what our information booklets do in print. We have people specialising in information and advice on all aspects of cancer. including financial help and emotional support.

Tell your patients about our free Support Line 0800 808 0000. Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm. For everyone affected by cancer, including family and friends.

Face to face support for patients near homeWe have permanent and mobile information and support centres around the country where your patients can drop in to meet with Macmillan staff and trained volunteers face to face.

Our regional teams, like our Support Line, can advise on all aspects of cancer. Your patients can also get our information booklets at the centres, with someone to talk through them if they wish. Some centres offer support groups and complementary therapies too.

To find your closest information and support centre, go to macmillan.org.uk/patientsupport and type in your postcode.