Resources and support
Find out about support groups, books, videos and other resources to help you cope with cervical cancer and treatment. You can also find about organisations that specialise in different areas such as sexual health and family planning.
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.
Specific women's cancer organisations and sites
Jo's Trust is a charity who provide information about cervical cancer. They run a helpline staffed by volunteers who have had experience of cervical cancer or abnormal cervical cells. It also has a confidential medical enquiry service. The website has an online forum where you can exchange experiences and information with others who have cervical cancer.
Helpline: 0808 802 8000
The Eve Appeal is a UK national charity raising awareness, and funding research into the five gynaecological cancers - womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal. They also provide a gynae cancer information and support service called Ask Eve.
Ask Eve telephone: 0808 802 0019
Ask Eve email: nurse@eveappeal.org.uk
General enquiries: telephone: 020 7605 0100 and email: office@eveappeal.org.uk
Go Girls offer support to women with gynaecological cancers. They are also raising awareness and campaigning for better diagnosis and treatments.
44 The Ridgeway, Upwey, Dorset DT3 5QQ
Tel: 01305 255719
Email: hello@gogirlssupport.org
This organisation provides information about many women's health issues. For a minimum donation of £10 to cover costs, they can give personalised email advice about your reproductive, gynaecological or sexual health. Produces booklets on a range of subjects including hormone replacement therapy, menopause, hysterectomy and ovarian cysts.
Spracklen House, East wing
Dukes Place
Marlow
Buckinghamshire
SL7 2QH
A national charity offering information and support to anyone affected by lymphoedema. It has local support groups, a helpline and a website. It also produces a range of information including factsheets about lymphoedema and its treatment, videos about self management techniques for lymphoedema, and a newsletter.
Telephone: 020 7351 4480
Email: admin@lsn.org.uk
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the US organisation for cancer research. It has information about all types of cancer.
The RCOG works to improve women's health care across the world. They work with a range of partners both in the UK and globally to improve the standard of care delivered to women, encourage the study of obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), and advance the science and practice of O&G.
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
General support organisations and sites
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.
This organisation provides free information about contraception and sexual health.
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
This charity aims to help with the physical and emotional wellbeing of people going through cancer treatment. They provide confidence boosting workshops, which gives a chance for people to meet others going through a similar experience and to learn skills to manage some of the side effects of treatment, such as skincare and make up techniques.
Workshops take place in hospitals and support centres across the UK. You can find your nearest workshop and read more about the work of the charity on their website.
West Hill House
32 West Hill
Epsom
Surrey
KT19 8JD
Phone: 01372 747500
Email: info@lgfb.co.uk
Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual and trans people - and anyone considering issues around their sexuality or gender identity. Their helpline is open every day between 10am and 10pm. They also offer a chat and email service.
PO Box 7324
London
N1 9QS
Helpline: 0300 330 0630
Email: chris@switchboard.lgbt
Books from libraries, bookshops or online booksellers
S Hollins and J Downer
Beyond Words, 2000
ISBN 978-1901242546
The book is designed to help prepare women with learning disabilities who want to go for a smear test. It addresses issues such as whether or not to have a smear test, what actually happens when you do have one, getting your test results and health education. It also looks at the emotions you may have about having a smear test.
Anne Szarewski
Altman Publishing, 2007
ISBN 1860360424
Dr Ian Banks
J H Haynes & Co Ltd, 2009
ISBN 978-1844258505
A practical guide to all aspects of women's health, written for men to help them understand and support the women in their lives.
Booklets and resources from other organisations
An easy guide to cervical screening
This is a leaflet with pictures about cervical screening for women with a learning disability. You can read or download this leaflet in PDF format on the Gov.UK website.
Cervical screening: lesbian and bisexual women
This factsheet answers questions about cervical screening.
Cervical screening: helping you decide
This leaflet is sent to all women who are invited for cervical screening. It explains what the cervical screening test is and what the results mean.
Cervical screening: Colposcopy
This is the leaflet sent to women after having an abnormal cervical screening result. It explains what a colposcopy is, what to expect during your appointment and what the results of the test mean.
NHS population screening: information for transgender and non binary people
This leaflet includes information about cervical screening, and breast and bowel cancer screening.
You can find and download these all from the Macmillan website.
- Controlling cancer pain (also on audiotape and CD)
- Coping with advanced cancer (also on audiotape and CD)
- Coping with hair loss (also on audiotape)
- Diet and cancer (also on audiotape)
- Lost for words - how to talk to someone with cancer
- Pelvic radiotherapy in women: possible late effects (produced in partnership with Cancer Research UK)
- Sexuality and cancer (also on audiotape)
- Talking about your cancer (also on audiotape and CD)
- Talking to children about cancer (also on audiotape and CD)
- Understanding cancer research trials (clinical trials)
- Understanding cervical cancer (also on audiotape and CD)
- Understanding cervical screening (also on audiotape)
- Understanding chemotherapy (also on audiotape)
- Understanding radiotherapy (also on audiotape and CD)
These booklets can be downloaded from the Royal Marsden website, or you can order them by calling freephone 0800 783 7176.
- Chemotherapy
- Clinical trials
- Radiotherapy
- Your operation and anaesthetic
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