Living with and beyond cancer

Getting a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming and frightening. You might be worried about how treatment will affect different aspects of your life, such as your family, work or money.

From the moment that you are diagnosed with cancer, we make sure that you have access to comprehensive and appropriate information, care and support, to help you live with and beyond cancer.

Cancer counselling

Our Cancer Counselling Service offers support to Kent Oncology Centre patients and their relatives.

Counselling offers the opportunity to explore thoughts, feelings and experiences in a supportive confidential environment. In addition, our service aims to:

  • Identify and alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety, low mood and depression
  • Facilitate open and honest communication where appropriate
  • Identify and explore social, psychological and spiritual difficulties
  • Facilitate self-help through empowerment
  • Provide support through your own, or your loved one’s cancer journey.
  • Identify coping strategies and suggest additional coping strategies that may be helpful.

A cancer diagnosis can affect the whole family, and the team can accept referrals for patients and their family members. Patients must be registered with a named consultant at MTW and be receiving part or all of their treatment at the trust.

Unfortunately, referrals for relatives of patients living outside Kent, or for those under the age of 18, can’t be accepted. However, we can help patients think through how to talk to their children about cancer.

If you meet the criteria you can refer yourself by calling us or ask to be referred by a medical professional. Once your referral has been received, you will be placed on the waiting list and will be contacted in two to four weeks.

If you do not meet the criteria please contact your GP who will be able to refer you to an appropriate counselling service.

The team offers a mainly outpatient-based service. However, we also provide ward-based therapeutic interventions for inpatients.

Operating hours and how to contact us

Our operating hours are Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and sessions are offered via phone, online and in person at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.

We are not an urgent service. If you need immediate help, call 999 or contact the Kent and Medway Urgent Mental Health helpline (0800 783 9111).

Additional support and resources

  • Your GP practice for counselling
  • Macmillan/Bupa counselling service offer up to six sessions of free one-on-one counselling
  • The Pickering Centre offer counselling as well as a place where people can drop in to chat
  • Harmony Therapy Trust offer of complementary and supportive therapy (referral needed)
  • We are with you  offer free talking therapies in Surrey and Kent. Self-refer via their website
  • Penny Brohn offer online emotional and wellbeing support and self-help resources. 
  • NHS (111) for further advice
  • Blackthorn Trust offer specialist therapies and workshops in Maidstone.
  • Samaritans (116 123) offer 24/7 telephone support or email Jo@Samaritans.org
  • The Kent and Medway Urgent Mental Health Helpline (0800 783 9111)

Look Good Feel Better

Look Good Feel Better run workshops hosted by industry-trained specialists, both virtually and in local communities across the UK, which give practical advice and support to people living with cancer.

Every workshop offers an invaluable opportunity to talk to others in a similar situation, whilst helping support people with their changing appearance. People leave workshops feeling empowered, motivated and less isolated – allowing them to feel more confident during their cancer journey.

 

Macmillan information and support

When you’re affected by cancer, getting the information and support that meets your individual needs is essential.

The Macmillan Information and Support Centre in the Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital and the Macmillan Infopod at Tunbridge Wells Hospital are drop-in services (in non-clinical settings).

They are available for people affected by cancer, including anyone who:

  • has received a cancer diagnosis
  • is living with the consequences of their diagnosis
  • is having treatment for cancer
  • is living with and beyond cancer
  • wants to reduce their risk of cancer
  • is a carer (or supporter), relative, or friend of someone with cancer
  • is a healthcare professional.

How we can help

Macmillan professionals (as well as hospital volunteers supporting the service) can provide:

  • booklets and information resources covering a range of aspects relating to cancer, its treatment, practical advice, as well as living with and beyond cancer
  • the opportunity to talk to someone confidentially in a comfortable, quiet space
  • information and support over-the-phone or via email, for those not visiting the service.

We also offer

  • links to other teams involved in cancer care and support in the hospital
  • links to local and national support services
  • information on support services such as benefits advice and counselling, and help with referrals to those
  • signposting to self-help and support groups
  • information on ‘Look Good Feel Better’ sessions (the opportunity to attend a group-setting workshop, during which women receive a make-up lesson from an experienced artist, whilst being supported to feel confident and connect with others)
  • links to other voluntary and statutory agencies
  • signposting to cancer awareness and educational sessions
  • information on health and wellbeing events

Where to find us

At Maidstone Hospital the Macmillan Information and Support Centre is at the back of the Kent Oncology Centre in the Radiotherapy department. Follow the green Macmillan signs from the Kent Oncology Centre café.

At Tunbridge Wells Hospital the Macmillan Infopod is in the foyer on the ground floor, close to the main entrance.

Opening times

The Macmillan Information Centre and the Macmillan Infopod are open Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm (except bank holidays).

Contact us

Information Centre: 01622 227 064

Infopod: 01892 638 069

Email: mtw-tr.koc-mtwcancerinfo@nhs.net.

Patient Journey app for breast cancer patients

As a cancer patient you may find yourself overwhelmed with leaflets, booklets and information sheets.

This works well for some patients but if you prefer digital information the Patient Journey app has been designed by our consultants and nurses and funded by Breast Cancer Kent.

It is available to download, free, from the App Store or GooglePlay and provides patients with reliable information about their diagnosis and treatment.

It is presented in an easily accessible format on smartphones and tablets and feedback from patients has been excellent.

Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Dr Russell Burcombe said, “While there is a wealth of information about breast cancer on the internet many patients avoid searching the web for fear of reading information they don’t understand or stumbling across sources that may not be accurate.

"The app provides patients with instant access to information, written by their doctors and nurses, that they can rely on.”

Patients can email questions to two breast cancer specialist nurses, contact nursing or chemotherapy teams directly from their phone and set reminders about upcoming treatments. The team hope to add more content as treatments evolve.

Maggie's

Maggie's logoWhen you’re diagnosed with cancer you need much more than medical treatment alone.

You might need information about how treatment will affect you, emotional support and practical advice, a place to go where you can meet and talk to people who are going through the same things.

Maggie's support people whatever type of cancer they have, and whatever stage they’re at. Support is free, and you don’t need an appointment or referral.

Maggie’s isn’t part of the NHS, but they work alongside trusts to offer expert support. Their centres sit in the grounds of cancer treatment centres and there is one planned for Maidstone Hospital, which is expected to be supporting people living with cancer by 2028.