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Coronavirus and cancer

Welcome to Cancer Matters Wessex
Information about services and support for people affected by cancer in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Find support near you

Cancer Matters Wessex has teamed up with Cancer Care Map to provide you with up-to-date information and support available to help you on your cancer journey, whether that’s helping you connect with a local support group or finding up to date information from a national charity. You can search for what you need under the categories, or explore what’s going on in your local area.

Find support near you

Wessex cancer surgical hub

The new Wessex cancer surgical hub is now available for cancer patients in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who need surgery but whose local hospital is unable to carry it out at the time it’s needed. The hub is based in Southampton but could be discussed with any cancer patient being treated in Wessex. The patient and their clinical team will decide together about its suitability as an option for the surgery.

More about the surgical hub

Wessex rapid investigation service

The Wessex rapid investigation service is a new service, initially launched in Poole but it will be available across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. When a patient has symptoms that are difficult to diagnose but may suggest cancer, their GP can refer them to the new service to be investigated and diagnosed quickly.

More about the rapid investigation service

SafeFit - specialist cancer exercises

SafeFit has been designed, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, to support people living with cancer to maintain and improve their physical and mental health and well-being, whilst following government guidelines.

More about SafeFit

Key links

Worried about cancer?

If you have signs or symptoms that could suggest cancer, it is important that you seek medical advice. Please contact your GP surgery directly. You can telephone, or you can go to your surgery’s website to complete an online form via e-Consult. Your GP surgery may offer you an online consultation, so you do not have to go to the surgery unnecessarily.

GPs can still make urgent referrals to specialists or for tests if they suspect you might have cancer.

If you have been referred by your GP and have been offered a diagnostic appointment, this means you have been given a fast track referral and it is important that you attend. Please read or print out the fast track referral leaflet for information about the next steps. This information is available in a variety of languages and formats.

Fast track referral leaflets

About us

We believe Cancer Matters Wessex will be particularly useful to you if you are affected by cancer, as a patient, family member, carer, volunteer or healthcare worker. Here you will find information about cancer and treatment options, as well as local services and support available while living with and beyond cancer.

We hope you will find the information useful and will continue to use the website as it is developed further.

Please contact us if you have any comments or feedback.

 

Cancer pathways Find support near you Keeping well

Living with cancer

Following diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. Macmillan Cancer Support can help you make sense of it all, with ongoing tailored information and support you can trust, from day one. Helping you cope with the physical, financial and emotional impacts of cancer, including:

  • following a healthy diet during treatment
  • planning and managing your finances
  • understanding what benefits you may be entitled to
  • talking about your diagnosis with loved ones and colleagues
  • coping with any changes in your relationships.

Sign up to Macmillan Cancer Support

Care following your cancer treatment

Outpatient hospital appointments used to continue for a number of years after cancer treatment had ended. We now know attending hospital appointments to discuss normal test results is of no real benefit and follow up is managed differently. The significant difference is that you now self-manage your follow-up care and will contact the hospital if and when you need to.

Follow-up care

More information

Videos

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Get connected...

Your local hospitals Healthwatch Ways you can get involved

News

FREE Cancer Training Webinar

14/04/21
Produced and delivered by NHS Dorset CCG in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support   Our aim is to ensure that cancer patients, their...
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Patient, Carer and Public Involvement Network

30/03/21
A message from Wessex Voices: Thank you to everyone who joined us on Thursday 11 March, for our introduction to the Involvement Network, we...
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Raising awareness of prostate cancer with and for Black men

25/03/21
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 4 men from Black African, Caribbean and Black British communities, which is higher than the 1 in 8...
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Lung Cancer: Covid’s hidden victim

09/02/21
Wessex Cancer Alliance is urging people to go to their GP if they have any concerns about their health which may be signs...
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