Fungating tumour resources and support organisations

There are organisations, support groups and other resources to help you cope with a fungating tumour.

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.

General support and information organisations

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

For general health advice and information.

NHS 111 gives information if you need fast medical help but it's not a 999 emergency. 

NHS Inform gives information about illnesses, treatments and NHS services for people in Scotland.

NHS 24 is a confidential telephone health advice and information service for people in Scotland. It provides urgent advice out of hours.

Phone: 111

Organisations that provide equipment

Offers mobility aids at low cost to help both elderly people and disabled adults and children. Has an extensive range of daily living aids and disability equipment. 

Complete Care Shop
330 Four Oaks Rd
Walton Summit Centre
Preston
PR5 8AP

Phone: 03330 160 000 (Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm)
Email: customerservice@completecareshop.co.ukk

This is an online shop for daily living equipment for the disabled community, older people, or those who look after people with difficulty getting around.

Email: customerservice@essentialaids.com
Phone: 01273 719 889

Specific symptoms organisations

A charity that is being run entirely by volunteers. They provide support, advice, and help to people affected by chronic pain and those close to them.

Telephone helpline (Painline): 0345 603 1593 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm)
Email: aopisat@btinternet.com

Write to: Action on Pain, 2 Mill Close, Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, PE34 4JG

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

Breast Cancer Now is a charity dedicated to funding breast cancer research. They also provide breast cancer information and support across the UK. Services are free and include a helpline, website, publications, and practical and emotional support. It was formed by the merger of The Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer in 2015. 

5th Floor Ibex House
42 - 47 Minories
London
EC3N 1DY

Tel: 0808 800 6000
Ask a nurse: Contact form  

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)

A registered charity that aims to improve the lives of those with lymphoedema. They actively contribute to improving the management of lymphoedema worldwide, especially in developing countries. They have a number of booklets that can be downloaded free of charge. Their head office is in Denmark.

Email: info@lympho.org

Tel: 0045 7020 0305 (International phone number from the UK)

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

MLD UK promotes public awareness of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). They publish a register of practitioners of MLD.

Telephone: 0844 800 1988
Email: admin@mlduk.org.uk

A support group for anyone who suffers from chronic pain. They deliver self management training to help those with chronic pain.

Freephone: 0800 783 6059 (Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm)
Email: info@painassociation.com

Pain Concern offers information and support to people with pain and those who care for them. They run a helpline staffed by volunteers and have an online forum called HealthUnlocked for members to share experiences. You can listen to podcasts that feature interviews with experts and people managing their pain. You can also subscribe to their newsletter, Pain Matters.

Helpline: 0300 123 0789
Email: help@painconcern.org.uk

This organisation provides information and support for people who need artificial feeding. They also have regional support groups for PINNT members.

PO Box 3126
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 2XS

Telephone: 020 3004 6193
Email: comms@pinnt.com

A charitable membership body of health care professionals with an interest in the care and support of people with lymphoedema. Their resources include a directory of lymphoedema specialist practitioners.

Tel: 01452 790 178

Organisations that can help with issues of sex and sexuality

College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) provides information about what help and therapy is available for sexual difficulties.

Telephone: 020 8106 9635
Email: info@cosrt.org.uk

Prostate Cancer UK provides information and support to anyone with concerns about prostate cancer. They have a helpline, produce information and fund research into prostate cancer. 

Contact form
Helpline: 0800 074 8383

Relate offers private and confidential counselling, and psychosexual therapy to help with relationship problems. They provide counselling over the phone, through a webcam or face to face at a Relate centre. Clients are asked to contribute towards the cost of their counselling sessions according to their income.

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.

Find local cancer information and support near you

There are organisations and support in your local area that you can access. You can ask your specialist nurse or doctor for more information about cancer services near you.

England

NHS Choices has a service that tells you about local information and support in England.

Scotland

NHS Inform gives information about illness, treatments and NHS services for people in Scotland.

Wales

NHS 111 Wales gives health advice and information for people living in Wales.

Northern Ireland

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland have a cancer information helpline and resource centre. They provide public and professional education, rehabilitation programmes and support groups for patients and relatives. 

Cancer nurse helpline: 0800 783 3339 Monday - Friday 9am to 1pm
Email: nurseline@cancerfocusni.org

Last reviewed: 
13 Jul 2023
Next review due: 
13 Jul 2026

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