How do you get help please? Diagnosed with brain tumour 10 weeks ago, diagnosed with colon cancer 2 weeks ago. Are you supposed to have a team around you helping???
Hi SpikeJones and welcome to the Online Community but I am sorry to hear about your diagnoses.
Having a ‘team’ to support you is often dictated by how your local Health Board funds Specialist Cancer Nurse posts (It was 14 years in my incurable cancer journey before my health board funded a post) so the next time you are at hospital do ask ‘who’ is your contact nurse (SCN), to go to person who you can call and ask questions.
Navigating the cancer journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but getting support from others who are dealing with the ‘exact same' cancer type can help a lot.
The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend consider joining and posting in our supportive Bowel (colon and rectum) cancer and Brain, secondary tumours support groups. These groups are safe places to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.
To join a group click on the “Bold Links” I have created above then once the group page opens click on “Click to Join” when the black banner appears or “Join” under “Group Tools” (this all depends on the device you are using)
You can put up your own post and introduce yourself to the group by clicking “+new” or “+” in the top right next to the group title. You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post. You can also scroll through other members posts and click “Reply” to get involved.
Our Support Line teams are available 7 days a week, 8am-8pm on freephone 0808 808 00 00, email or live webchat where you will find one of team there to help you out. We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow a few working days for a reply.
Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as these folks are amazing.
Do get back to me if you need further help.
