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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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Living with and beyond cancer

| Updated 16 Mar 2026

This term is used to describe anyone who has had a diagnosis of cancer. This may include people who have completed their cancer treatment or are living with their cancer. The Living with and Beyond Cancer area of the St George’s website is dedicated to providing support to help you …
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Virtual Family History Service

| Updated 12 Mar 2026

The Virtual Family History Service is a regional service offering cancer family risk assessment throughout the South West Thames and Surrey and Sussex regions to individuals with a family history breast, ovary and bowel cancers. The aim of the service is to improve the surveillance, prevention, and early detection of …
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Pelvic health (SPARC)

| Updated 6 Mar 2026

Pelvic health encompasses the overall well-being of the organs, muscles, and connective tissue inside the pelvis. Awareness of good pelvic health involves optimising the function of the bladder and bowel and impacts sexual function and quality of life. Below we will highlight some areas that everyone (whether they have gone …
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Talking about pelvic and abdominal concerns (SPARC)

| Updated 4 Mar 2026

Talking openly to loved ones about the everyday impacts of cancer can make it easier to be able to open the conversation to some of these more sensitive conversations. Find a time that you feel relaxed and have the time and privacy to have the conversation. You might find it …
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Sphincter Exercises (SPARC)

| Updated 4 Mar 2026

Having well-functioning sphincter muscles can help to improve bowel control. When done correctly, these exercises can build up and strengthen the muscles to help you to hold both gas and stool (poo) in the back passage. Where are these muscles? The back passage or anus has two rings of muscle …
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Holding on Programme (SPARC)

| Updated 6 Mar 2026

As with many bodily functions, you can “retrain” your bowels. The following programme can teach you to “hold on” when you need to empty your bowels. Your rectum (where you store stool), your sphincter muscles (around your back passage), and your confidence need retraining to help you overcome this problem. …
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Glossary of Terms (SPARC)

| Updated 4 Mar 2026

Glossary of Terms These are some terms that you might hear health professionals or other patients using. The Macmillan website is also a good place to look, to make sense of medical terms. MDT / Multi-disciplinary team This is a term to describe a group of health care professionals from …
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