New support guide for cancer patients
08 Mar 2023
A comprehensive new resource, ‘Your cancer pathway support guide’, is available to help people referred on a suspected cancer pathway or who have been diagnosed with cancer.
There can be a lot of information to absorb during an already difficult time. The guide is designed to support them as they prepare for diagnostic tests, go through treatment if cancer is diagnosed, or have follow up care after treatment. This includes:
- Providing information and support at the right time – before, during and after having tests or treatment for cancer.
- Helping people to get relevant information and know what questions to ask.
- Giving people with cancer the information and confidence to help make shared decisions about their treatment and care.
- Offering signposting to emotional and practical support.
The content is a series of questions with answers or signposting to relevant information, from the point of being referred for tests right through to follow-up after treatment. The questions range from finding out how much time to set aside to attend appointments, how to talk to friends and family about cancer, and dealing with side effects of cancer treatment.
The guide is available in digital form and also to print out. In the digital format people can type in notes and save these as they go along, while the print version can be read on a device or printed out so handwritten notes can be added.
‘Your cancer pathway support guide’ was developed by North Central London Cancer Alliance. It was co-designed with patients, carers and healthcare professionals, with support from Healthwatch Barnet and advocacy from Macmillan Cancer Support. It is intended for use by anyone affected by cancer and healthcare professionals in England.