Cancer information and support centres

Our staff at both centres are here to listen to and discuss your views and concerns, and provide a full range of relevant information on cancer awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatments and all aspects of cancer care.

The period between a diagnosis of cancer and commencing treatment can be particularly difficult. You and your family are encouraged to return for further information or support throughout the cancer journey.

Patients with a suspected malignancy, newly diagnosed patients or patients at any time during their cancer journey can be seen with their families in the privacy and comfort of the centres where information can be given and clarified.

Liaison with healthcare professionals working in our hospitals ensures that you receive continuity of care and a seamless service throughout all stages of your treatment. Where additional psychological support is required, referrals can be made to a specialist counselling service.

Both centres have a well stocked cancer information library, containing up-to-date information on cancer awareness and prevention and on all types of cancers and their treatment.

Trained staff are on hand to direct you to relevant literature or explain information that may be new.

A selection of information is also available in a range of different formats and languages.

Opening hours

The information library at Epsom Hospital  is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (excluding public holidays), 9.30am - 4.30pm.

The information library at St Helier Hospital is open on Thursdays (excluding public holidays), 9.30am - 4.30pm.

You can make an informal appointment to be guided around the resources. 

Supportive therapies can play a part in alleviating distress for some cancer patients.

They can offer a holistic approach to cancer care and can result in patients feeling more empowered over their illness.

These therapies are being used under the umbrella of integrated healthcare. This means that their focus is on health and healing rather than disease and treatment. They seek to bring together body, mind and spirit so that healthcare encompasses the whole person.

Due to available resources we can only offer a limited number of sessions for each therapy.

We also run various workshops at the Macmillan Butterfly Centre to support people affected by cancer. Please contact the centre for more information.

Supportive therapies at Epsom Hospital

We currently offer the following supportive therapies in the Macmillan Butterfly Centre at Epsom Hospital:

• Reflexology
• Reiki
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Dance classes
• Nutrition workshops

Supportive therapies at St Helier Hospital

We currently offer Acupuncture, reflexology and reiki in the Cancer Information and Support Centre at St Helier Hospital.

The Active Breathing Course (ABC) is a free 6 week program designed to offer support to people affected by cancer. 

Through breathing and vocal cord exercises ABC improves controlled breathing and lung function while providing techniques to help manage anxiety.

For more information,  please click here for the poster.

Bereavement is an individual experience and loosing someone you have been close to turns your life upside down. You may feel confused, unhappy, and angry, shocked, depressed – all at the same time.

At a Bereavement Café you will connect with others who have been through loss and who understand what you are going through. Talking with someone about the person who has died, speaking openly about how you feel and how this affects your life, can be really helpful.

Bereavement Café is not a form of counselling and bereavement isn’t a problem that needs solving, it’s an adjustment to life that takes time to make.

Please feel free to join our Bereavement Café on the first Friday in the month at 2.30 – 4pm.

For more information please contact Tarlika Patel on:

01372 735456 / 0208 296 4730

The Trust has two Cancer information and support centres at each hospital site.

We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic and committed volunteers for our two Cancer information and support centres. We offer emotional support, signposting, counselling and complementary therapies to our cancer patients and their loved ones. We have two volunteer roles available in the centres:

Volunteer supportive therapists

This rewarding role makes a real difference to people during very stressful times in their lives. The volunteer supportive therapist is not directly involved with the client’s treatment or care but may influence their physical and emotional wellbeing. The role may also help to contribute towards CPD requirements for the therapist. Training, induction and ongoing support will be provided and travel costs will be paid. Therapists work as part of a team supporting people affected by cancer.

Volunteer complementary therapists

We are looking for massage therapists, aromatherapists, reflexologists and spiritual healers.

Volunteer counsellors

We are also looking for 2 qualified volunteer counsellors for each of our cancer support centres. The volunteer counsellors should be working towards accreditation to the BACP.

For more information about volunteering with us: Please contact Tarlika Patel – Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Manager (Centre Manager) on 01372 735456 or email tarlika.patel@nhs.net

Are you finding it tough living with cancer or after treatment?

Our face to face HOPE (Help Overcoming Problems Effectively) course is currently on hold due to COVID. 

Macmillan cancer Support are running an online HOPE programme

Macmillan cancer Support’s new Self-directed HOPE programme

This new online programme aims to help us reach a wider audience.  It is designed to directly support people living with or after a cancer diagnosis, and aims to enhance their resilience, help them rediscover their strengths and increase their ability to cope.   Individuals can work through the materials independently, in their own time, at their own pace. 

To find out more, please see link - Self-directed HOPE programme – Help Overcoming Problems Effectively online - Macmillan where you can find out more and register for the online programme. 

The Macmillan Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) advice service is a free confidential welfare benefits and money advice service for people living with cancer, their families and carers.

A CAB advisor will be available by appointment only to give free, confidential and impartial advice to people affected by cancer.

To find out more about accessing this service, please see Macmillan CAB service [pdf] 938KB