One of the biggest challenges you will have is the uncertainty that cancer causes in your life.
Do not be afraid to ask for help - seek support from people and organisations you trust.
The types of support you can get if you need it include:
- support from your specialist nurse
- support from a medical social worker
- your local cancer support centre
- cancer support organisations
- programmes (courses) to help you get used to your cancer diagnosis
- psychological support, such as counselling
- financial support
- online support groups and forums
Keep in contact with your GP so they can give you advice and support.
Find out about financial supports
Support from your specialist nurse
The main point of contact in your care team is usually a specialist nurse. Your care team will tell you who this is.
Your specialist nurse will:
- support you through your treatment
- give you information about other sources of advice and support
- share their contact number so you can phone them if you have any questions
Contact your specialist nurse if you:
- if you have any questions
- need to talk to someone
What to do if you are worried about your side effects or symptoms
Your local cancer support centre
Community cancer support centres are in most local communities.
They help:
- people with cancer
- families and carers of people with cancer
The support services provided by cancer support centres can include:
- information and advice
- counselling and psychological support
- specialist services such as manual lymphatic drainage
- physical activity classes and programmes
- survivorship programmes for people who have finished cancer treatment
- programmes for loved ones and carers such as Building Better Caregivers - this is online
- complementary therapies
Ask your specialist nurse about your local cancer support centre.
Support organisations
To get free, independent support and advice contact:
- Irish Cancer Society
- Marie Keating Foundation
- YouCan Ireland
- Look Good Feel Better
- Citizen's Information
- Money Advice and Budgeting Service
If your local hospital has an Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centre, they can help you too.
Cancer support line
You can talk to a cancer nurse on the Irish Cancer Society's support line.
Freephone: 1800 200 700
This is a free phone service that gives confidential information, support and guidance to people concerned about cancer.
Support programmes
There are online and in-person support programmes to help:
- you after cancer treatment
- if you are getting long-term cancer treatment
- carers
- your children
Cancer Thriving and Surviving
You can do the Cancer Thriving and Surviving programme from 3 months after you have finished your initial active treatment. You will learn skills that help you manage your health after cancer treatment.
This interactive self-management programme runs for 6 weeks and the sessions are 2.5 hours weekly.
They run in small groups of up to 16 people.
You will learn about:
- managing fatigue, pain, sleep problems and emotional distress
- coping with uncertainty and fear
- exercise and physical recovery
- healthy eating and lifestyle
- communicating with family and healthcare professionals
- decision making about treatment and complementary therapies
Ask your local cancer support centre about the Cancer Thriving and Surviving programme.
Empower Cancer and Menopause
If your cancer treatment causes menopause symptoms you can get support through the Empower programme.
This programme helps patients to cope with these symptoms through lifestyle changes, psychological support or medicine if needed.
Empower Cancer and Menopause is an 8-week group programme. It is run online or in person by health professionals and other trained staff.
It is for people who:
- start menopause because of treatment, such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy
- have early or complex menopause after cancer
- need support with symptoms, uncertainty, and their long-term health
It includes:
- education on menopause and cancer treatments, how to manage symptoms
- lifestyle interventions - exercise, eating and sleep
- psychological support and coping strategies
- planning tools
- peer support
You will create a survivorship action plan as part of the programme.
Life After Cancer Enhancing Survivorship (LACES)
Ask your specialist nurse about the LACES programme if you are:
- finished treatment
- getting maintenance therapy (long-term) treatment and living well with advanced cancer
The aim of the LACES programme is to help you to adjust, live well, and feel your best, physically and emotionally.
To learn more about these courses:
- phone the Irish Cancer Society on 1800 200 700
- visit your local Daffodil Centre
- visit cancer.ie
Building Better Caregivers
Building Better Caregivers is an online programme for people who are caring for a loved one with cancer. It is delivered by trained leaders.
It gives caregivers practical skills to help:
- manage stress, anxiety and burnout
- cope with fatigue and sleep problems
- handle emotions such as guilt or frustration
- communication with healthcare professionals and loved ones
- maintain your health
The programme runs for 6 weeks and has weekly sessions. These sessions are around 2 hours long.
To learn more about these courses contact Recovery Haven, Kerry:
Support for your children
CLIMB
The CLIMB (Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery) programme helps children cope with a parent's cancer diagnosis.
It is suitable for children age 5 to 12.
The CLIMB programme is play-based and creative. It is usually 6 weeks long and runs in small groups. It helps children develop coping skills, and educates them in an age-appropriate way about cancer.
There is often a support space for parents and carers.
Ask about CLIMB at your local cancer support centre.
CUBS
The CUBS programme is a group programme that supports children to understand and process their grief after a loss.
CUBS is for children and teenagers who have been bereaved by cancer or other serious illnesses. Within the programme they will receive information and education about death and grief. They can express themselves and develop coping strategies for their emotions.
It runs in small, age-based groups over a number of weeks and is delivered online.
Contact support@cancercarewest.ie
Applying to college and cancer
The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme offers a reduced points system to college courses.
DARE is for people whose schooling has been affected by certain conditions including cancer.
Through the scheme you may get an offer of a course you want to do even if you do not have the points.
You apply for DARE through the Central Applications Office (CAO). You need to be under age 23 by 1 January the year of admission to college.
Talk to your school or a DARE advisor in a specific college or university.
Back to work after cancer
The Marie Keating Foundation has advice and information for you and your employer on going back to work after cancer.
Back to work after cancer - mariekeating.ie
Personalised exercise
You can get information and support to help you become more active and improve your health and wellbeing during and after cancer.
Exercise and rehabilitation services directory - cancerrehabilitation.ie
Specialist support for your cancer
You may be able to get specialist advice and support for:
- the type of cancer you have
- treatment you are getting
- symptoms, complications, or side effects you have
You can ask your specialist nurse, GP or local cancer support centre.
Transport and travel to appointments
If you need transport to or from treatment appointments, you can ask for support.
Depending on where you live or where you are getting treatment, free transport may be available.
Ask your specialist nurse, local cancer support centre, or the Irish Cancer Society.
