Supporting pelvic and abdominal related cancer concerns (SPARC)

| Updated 31 Mar 2026

SPARC is a project designed with patients at St George’s which aims to provide support and guidance for people who experience concern because of their cancer or cancer treatment that affect their pelvic and abdominal area. Many of these are included in the word cloud below. People tell us that …
Continue reading →

Libido

| Updated 31 Mar 2026

Libido is another term for sex drive or sexual desire. It is normal for everyone to experience fluctuations in their libido at different times in their life, or on any given day. When a person loses their libido, they may notice that they do not feel like being intimate or …
Continue reading →

Stomas

| Updated 31 Mar 2026

A stoma is an opening in the abdomen which allows waste to collect in an external pouch. It can be temporary, giving the body time to heal, or sometimes they are permanent. Types of stomas: Colostomy: the colon (or large bowel) is attached to an external pouch, usually producing solid …
Continue reading →

Anatomy guide

| Updated 31 Mar 2026

On this page, we will explore the anatomy of the pelvis and bowel – what they do, how they work, and how cancer can sometimes change this. It is important to note that cancer and the treatments available, like surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, can sometimes change how bones, muscles, and …
Continue reading →

Protected: Patient Resources

| Updated 26 Mar 2026

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Occupational Therapy

| Updated 26 Mar 2026

Occupational therapy supports patients recovering from trauma or orthopaedic surgery to regain independence in everyday activities. After an injury or operation, tasks such as washing, dressing, cooking or returning to work can become more difficult. Occupational therapists work with you to develop practical strategies and provide equipment or advice to …
Continue reading →

Physiotherapy

| Updated 31 Mar 2026

The Trauma and Orthopaedic Physiotherapy team supports patients recovering from traumatic injuries and orthopaedic surgery at St George’s Hospital. This includes patients with fractures, musculoskeletal injuries and those recovering from procedures such as hip, knee or spinal surgery. Physiotherapy focuses on restoring movement, improving strength and helping you return to …
Continue reading →

Existing mental health difficulties

| Updated 16 Mar 2026

We know that it is common for people to struggle with their mental health or emotional wellbeing when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. If you have a history of mental health difficulties or a current diagnosis, you may find that your mental health worsens, it is harder to cope during …
Continue reading →

Community Mental Health Services

| Updated 16 Mar 2026

Community Mental Health support varies dependent on where you are based and what support you need. There are various types of teams available that can support people with mental health diagnoses. Support will depend on your individual circumstances and can include involvement from psychiatrists, mental health nurses, support workers, social …
Continue reading →

Smoking and Cancer

| Updated 16 Mar 2026

Stopping smoking has important benefits and many of these happen straight away. It is not easy to quit, but there are lots of resources to make this process easier. This information from the NHS better health resources describes the changes to your body and the benefits of stopping smoking. Quit …
Continue reading →