Disclaimer

Although we take care to ensure accuracy, Macmillan Cancer Support does not accept liability for the information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert or for any errors or omissions in them, or for third-party information or services such as other websites we may link to. The information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert are for information purposes only and are not intended to be legal, financial or medical advice or opinions. If you need more details on your rights, please contact a financial, legal or other appropriate adviser.

We recommend that you consult your doctor if you are concerned about your health. Any You should not rely on any information and materials provided or referenced in Ask an Expert including by our Experts as they are not a replacement for advice, diagnosis or treatment from your medical team, and our Experts cannot provide a second opinion to that of your medical team.

Your question can be read by others – so please don't post your contact details or any other information that could personally identify you. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Community Guidelines for more details.

How Do You Receive Counselling.

FishChipsPeas
  • 1 reply
  • 11 subscribers
  • 638 views

Hi
I went through treatment for breast cancer treatment in 2020/21 with follow ups in 2022.
I live alone, also went through all of my treatment (chemo, surgery and rads) alone because of Covid and having no family.
I also suffer from Border Line Personality disorder (but was never offered any help, and when I asked through my local MH team I was refused)

My GP has been useless, in fact since my treatment I have seen them 2 owing to developing Lymphodema of which I was referred to the Lymphodema clinic...outside of that nothing from my GP.

First step refused to see me because of my BLPD referring me back to the GP or some none qualified organization connected to the church!

Surely, there has to be someone I can talk to I know I am slipping deeper into depression simply because I am bottling up all of my feelings and worries.

Many Thanks

  • Hi  

    Thank you for reaching out to Macmillan and sharing this with us. I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and experience of cancer treatment throughout Covid. Firstly @FishChipsPeas I want you to know Macmillan will always be here offering a listening ear and supporting you or providing information whenever you need us.

    I can only imagine how you must be feeling, having gone through Cancer, and experiencing mental health problems. I will do my very best to share as much information as I can today to support you.

    Going through a cancer journey is so incredibly personal. Everyone experiences their own thoughts and feelings around what they are going through and processes things differently. For this reason its important you are given the right support and information as and when needed @FishChipsPeas.

    Did you know we have a support line here at Macmillan. You can contact us on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week). You can also use our chat option available through our website. We have a variety of teams available including emotional support and specialist nurse support. Additionally we have an option through our website called In Your Area. Here you can search for various support options including information hubs. There will be contact options available where you can call the hub and see what they offer locally. This could be a support worker, drop-in sessions and more.

    @FishChipsPeas you mention you live alone currently and did whilst receiving treatment in lock down. This must have been incredibly tough for you. Did you have a health care team/specialist assigned to your care during this time? It can feel incredibly lonely among other feelings when going through treatment. Did you know we have a Macmillan Buddies service we offer for anyone affected by cancer. You simply fill out a form online and the volunteer manager will contact you directly to find a trained buddy that suits your needs. Dependent on the area they have telephone and face to face support available over several weeks that can be planned around your needs.

    @FishCHipsPeas you mention you have borderline personality disorder but have received no help from services in your area. This must have been hard for you to manage on top of cancer treatment and Covid. There are certainly services available to you. If you live in England @FishChipsPeas you can find your local Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Services by searching through the NHS link I’ve included here. There are also other services available for support including Shout which is a 24 hour texting service and The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The NHS also has various links on their website supporting mental health including NHS – Mental Health Services.

    @FishChipsPeas I can see this is having an impact on your well-being. You mention slipping deeper into depression because you’re bottling up all your feelings and worries. Your well-being absolutely matters and Macmillan would like to help as much as we can. If you feel able to contact us (as mentioned above) we can have a chat and see what you feel the right support option is for you just now.

     

    I hope this information has been helpful to you. Please do take the best of care.

    Becki, Information and Support Adviser

    Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email.

Help us do whatever it takes, because we’ve never been needed more.

© Macmillan Cancer Support 2025 © Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 3rd Floor, Bronze Building, The Forge, 105 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9HZ. VAT no: 668265007