Living with and beyond cancer

What support is available?

• Complementary therapies icon plus

  We have a team of complementary therapists who provide treatments, including massage and reflexology, reiki and physiotherapy, to help patients relax and to relieve some symptoms.

• Supportive causes and workshops icon plus

  We provide a range of workshops and groups to help support patients, relatives and friends. These expert-led programmes offer those living with cancer access to workshops, lectures and one-to-one sessions, to address any physical, psychological, practical and spiritual needs.

  We also have dedicated courses for patients coming to the end of curative treatment which focus on life post-treatment. Each week focuses on a different theme, such as exercise, healthy eating or coping emotionally.

• Eating well during and after cancer treatment icon plus

  Maintaining a nutritional diet throughout cancer treatment can have a huge impact on a patient's ability to cope with treatment. Our specialist oncology dieticians can help patients maintain the best possible diet throughout treatment and beyond.

  Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause symptoms such as changes in appetite, a change of bowel habits, weight loss and loss of energy or change of taste. We understand how difficult these changes can be when facing cancer treatment but it’s important that patients get all the nutrition they need. The right meal plan can help manage weight loss issues and improve the body’s ability to recover from chemotherapy and surgery.

  Our expert dieticians provide support with specific symptoms, such as sore mouth and loss of taste.

• Staying active/physiotherapy icon plus

  Physical activity can play a vital role in a patient's physicality and mood during or after cancer treatment. It can also act as an effective antidote to common fatigue experienced as a side effect of some treatments. Our medical team, including physiotherapists specialising in cancer, will work with patients to create a safe and effective activity plan based on their individual needs. This should enable them to gradually increase activity levels. 

• Emotional impact/psychological support icon plus

  As a specialist provider of cancer care, we understand the emotional impact of cancer and its treatment. Many patients experience anxiety and depression on top of their physical symptoms and this is completely normal. Our consultant psychologist and counselling team are available to support you and your family with psychological aspects of cancer care. Issues commonly faced by patients include fear of recurrence, uncertainty about the future, anxiety and depression, body image, altered relationships and psychosexual problems.
  
  Whatever the concern, we will create a plan with the objective of helping you to develop coping strategies, whilst allowing you the time and space you may need to reflect on your diagnosis and treatment.

• Lymphoedema services icon plus

  Some types of cancer and cancer treatment can cause lymphoedema. This is when the fluid drainage channels of the lymphatic system stop draining the way they are supposed to, which causes swelling. This is quite common for patients with breast cancer whose lymph nodes have been affected by radiotherapy or surgery. It may be painful and can sometimes restrict arm movement. 
  
  Our lymphoedema therapists will provide a full assessment, support you with any swelling and discuss ways to manage it using a combination of treatments. Often these treatments include specialist skin care, massage, wearing a specially designed garment or making small lifestyle adjustments. Follow-up appointments will be made to monitor your progress and adapt your treatment plan if necessary.

• Pain management for cancer icon plus

  Some patients experience pain, tingling or numbness during or after cancer treatment  The main aim of pain management is to improve your quality of life, both physically and emotionally, using a variety of treatments and techniques. Your individual treatment will be delivered by a consultant who specialises in the pain management of cancer patients during and after their treatment. 

  Pain management services are divided into two parts; acute and chronic or long-term pain. Acute pain treatment ensures that patients’ pain is properly treated during cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or after cancer surgery, whereas patients with chronic or long-term pain are usually managed as outpatients. 
  
  The techniques used in pain management depend on the nature and severity of the pain. You may be offered a combination of different therapies, which may include medication, physiotherapy, relaxation training, psychological support, acupuncture and massage.

   

   

• Interpreting services icon plus

  At HCA UK we have a dedicated team to support patients travelling from overseas for cancer treatment. They are available to support and guide our visiting patients throughout their cancer treatment and recovery, as well as providing cultural awareness training for all our team. We know a cancer diagnosis and treatment can be complex and there is a lot of information to digest. Interpreters can be arranged to help you if your first language is not English.