A diagnosis of cancer is a life-changing event. It is normal and understandable to feel distressed.
- Adjusting to the impact of a cancer diagnosis and your treatment
- Dealing with the changes to life circumstances, including work, social life, and relationships
- Anxiety, low mood, anger, phobias and fears of your cancer returning
- Coping with the traumatic aspects of cancer and its treatment
- Adjusting to life after cancer and uncertainty about the future
- Maintaining quality of life during, following and beyond cancer treatment
- Coping with such as pain, fatigue and other side effects as a result of your cancer and/or its treatment
- Adjusting to loss and change in self-esteem, physical functioning and your physical appearance
- Coping with end-of-life issues
- Coping with your feelings about the loss of a loved one
- Our cancer psychology team has recorded 7 different mindfulness audio clips. We hope you might find them useful. You can access them all in this link - https://
soundcloud.com/ user-93193016 - Dropping the anchor is a really useful practice. Many people with cancer find it helpful in times of acute anxiety. This could be when you’re waiting for a scan or having treatment. You can find a range of different audio clips for dropping anchor here - https://www.actmindfully.com.au/free-stuff/free-audio. You can download them to use whenever you need. It’s a really good idea to practice dropping anchor in times when you’re not feeling anxious so that you become familiar with it.
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The cancer support specialists at Maggie’s centre have produced some resources of relaxation and breathing exercises. They are available here - https://
www. maggies.org/ cancer-support/ managing-emotions/ relaxation-and-breathing-exercises/ -
The local mental health trust has produced audio files of relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress and gain a sense of wellbeing. They are available in both male and female voices here - Relaxation techniques - Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (cntw.nhs.uk)
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There are compassion-focused exercises, including soothing rhythm breathing, available on this website - Audio (compassionatemind.co.uk)
The Northern Cancer Alliance is an organisation that works to improve services for people affected by cancer.
They have developed this webpage to help you find support with all aspects of your wellbeing - https:/
Local support organisations
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National support organisations
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NHS Mental Health services and information
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Bereavement support and groups for adults
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End of life and bereavement support for children and young people
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Support to get back to work after cancer
If you are struggling, our cancer psychology team offers support for patients and adult, family members across the whole of the cancer journey. Support can be offered to individuals, couples and families. It can be face to face, via video call or telephone call, dependent upon your needs.
The service is based on the Oncology Day Units in Hexham, North Tyneside and Wansbeck hospitals. The team can also see patients on the Palliative Care Units and have limited capacity to see patients on other hospital wards by request.
Please speak to your nursing/medical team if you wish to be referred to the cancer psychology service.
More information and videos of patients explaining how the service has helped them is on the cancer psychology service webpage.