Resources and organisations for bowel cancer
There are many organisations, support groups, books, videos and other resources to help you cope with bowel cancer and treatment. You can also find out about suppliers of stoma appliances.
Cancer Research UK information and support
Cancer Research UK is the largest cancer research organisation in the world outside the USA. We fund research on all aspects of cancer from its causes to prevention and treatment.
We are committed to producing high quality information for people affected by cancer. As well as looking at the information on this website you can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Cancer Chat is our online forum where you can share experiences.
Bowel cancer support organisations
Shortly after Bobby Moore’s death in 1993, Bobby’s widow Stephanie Moore OBE set up the Bobby Moore Fund as a restricted fund of Cancer Research UK to raise money for pioneering bowel cancer research.
Phone: 0300 1231022
Email: bobbymoorefund@cancer.org.uk
Bowel Cancer UK raise awareness of bowel cancer and campaign for better treatments and care. They provide information about bowel cancers, including anal and rectal cancers through their website and leaflets and they have an online forum.
Nurse email: nurse@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7940 1760
General support organisations
The Bladder and Bowel Community supports people living with bladder and bowel disorders and has a telephone helpline. The service is confidential. They can also give you information about stoma products.
They have a 'Just Can't Wait' card which allows holders access to toilets in shops and when you are out. It's free to order on the website.
Forward House
17 High Street
Henley-in-Arden
B95 5AA
Home Delivery Service Sign Up: 0800 031 5406
Home Delivery Service Existing Customers: 0800 031 5407
Email: help@bladderandbowel.org
This is a UK support group for people with a colostomy. It provides information and support and booklets to anyone who has or is about to have a colostomy.
Free helpline: 0800 328 4257 (24 hrs a day, 7 days a week)
Email: hello@colostomyuk.org
General enquires: 0118 939 1537 (between 09:00 and 17:00)
Disability Rights UK provides an information and advice service and campaigns for disabled people's rights.
They also provide a Just Can't Wait card and radar keys that give access to toilets throughout the UK for people who might need to use a toilet in a hurry.
Tel: 0330 995 0400
Email: enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org
This is a support group for those with the Familial Adenomatous Polyposis gene.
Email: enquiries@fapgene.com
Guts UK produce information and leaflets on common digestive diseases and illnesses. This includes information about cancer of the bowel, food pipe (oesophagus) and stomach.
Tel: 020 7486 0341
Email: info@gutscharity.org.uk
The IA aims to help anyone who needs or has had an ileostomy or internal pouch. It has a network of branches throughout the UK which give advice, information leaflets, and home and hospital visiting. The website hosts forums for discussion. The organisation has a membership fee.
Freephone: 0800 018 4724
Email: info@iasupport.org
This charity aims to provide information and support to people with Lynch syndrome and their families, and to raise awareness of this syndrome. They also provide support through their Facebook page Lynch Syndrome UK Online.
Macmillan Cancer Support is a charity that gives practical, medical and financial support to people with cancer in the UK. Its helpline gives guidance on cancer and advice on benefits. It also publishes booklets about cancer and treatments. Information is available in other languages.
Freephone: 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week, 8am to 8pm)
Contact email form
A patient led group that promotes understanding about pelvic radiation disease. Pelvic radiation disease is a late effect of radiotherapy treatment. They support patients and campaign for more research and better treatment for this condition.
Email: info@prda.org.uk
The Sexual Advice Association provide lists of local specialist practitioners, as well as fact sheets on problems such as erectile dysfunction (impotence).
The website no longer has a helpline due to a lack of funding.
Suppliers of stoma appliances
Delivers supplies of prescription colostomy and ileostomy equipment to people's homes.
Telephone:
England & Wales: 0800 132 787
Scotland: 0800 917 8639
Northern Ireland: 0800 581 220
Email: help@charter.co.uk
Delivers supplies of prescription colostomy and ileostomy equipment. Also gives information on all areas of stoma care. Has a helpline for anyone who has a stoma.
Tel: 0800 282 254
Email: stoma.webcare@convatec.com
A company that provides products for people with stomas. They have a delivery service for prescribed appliances.
Tel: 0800 521377 (Customer Care team)
There are also handcrafted ostomy covers available. These come in different shapes and sizes and are made of a wide range of fabrics. Cancer Research UK is unable to list all the different companies that make these handcrafted covers. However, if you search the internet you can find different options available.
Books about bowel cancer
Ian Eustace
BXPLANS.LTD, 2018
ISBN 1910843997
An easy to read guide to bowel cancer. It includes information about lowering your risk, causes, tests, treatment and living with bowel cancer.
DS Bub, SL Rose and WD Wong
Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2011
ISBN 978-1449622923
A comprehensive book about all aspects of colorectal cancer. It is an American book so some aspects will not apply to the UK.
John Northover
Hodder and Stoughton, 2007
ISBN 0340927461
An easy to read guide to bowel cancer, written by an expert bowel surgeon. The book explains the structure of the bowel, how bowel cancer develops and its symptoms. Patients and carers are led through different treatments, after care and life after treatment.
Biography
M Davies
Mark Davies, 2011
ISBN 9780955903625
A personal story using male humour from Mark Davies who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 31. Some people may find it a little crude but others find it amusing. Discusses his diagnosis, treatment and the challenges of living with bowel cancer.
Information for children
K Chilman-Blair and S deLoache
American Cancer Society, 2013
ISBN 1604432020
An American illustrated book about bowel cancer aimed at children aged 10 to 16 years.
Videos of people's stories
Find out about the experience of living with and beyond cancer by seeing and hearing people share their personal stories on film. Healthtalk’s researchers created a library of interviews with people who have survived for 5 years or more after a cancer diagnosis.
Find out what people said about issues such as lifestyle choices, physical effects and the impact on work and family.
Find local cancer support and information services
The NHS has a service that tells you about local information and support.
