Supporting Pelvic Health & Abdominal Related Cancer Concerns (SPARC)
On this page:
SPARC is a project designed with patients at St George’s which aims to provide support and guidance for people who experience concerns 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 several of these concerns feel intimate to discuss and it can sometimes feel embarrassing.
We wanted to let you know that you are not alone with these concerns and that you are very welcome to discuss them with us.
We hope this information will support you in talking about pelvic and abdominal consequences of cancer.
Explaining some terms you might hear
This page will link you to a glossary that explains 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 different medical terms you might hear.
Understanding your body
This page will link you to more information to help you understand your anatomy. We understand that changes to your body can be difficult to adjust to and may lead to emotional distress. If you are struggling with your body image, this page shares some tips that you may find helpful.
Preparing for cancer treatment
This recorded workshop provides information and guidance to help you prepare for cancer treatment that might impact on your pelvic or abdominal area. It shares some tips to help you to minimise and manage these issues.
Support throughout your pathway – the SPARC Roadmap
We understand that these concerns can arise at different times throughout your patient pathway. Our patients asked us to design a one page resource as a reference guide to give tips and signposting for where to get more information or support. We designed this roadmap with our patients.
It is available online here SPARC Roadmap and paper copies are available from the Macmillan centre or the cancer clinics.
This guide can be printed and folded into a map using this link Printable SPARC Roadmap
And it also available in larger print using this link Larger print Roadmap
Hospital appointments
We understand that it can be difficult to start conversations about intimate parts of your body. We want to reassure you that we are used to these conversations and we want to help you. Follow this link for more information about how and when to ask for help.
Getting the most out of your appointments – www.patients-association.org.uk/getting-the-most-out-of-your-appointment
Support after surgery
The following leaflets provide some information and guidance to help you with your recovery after your surgery.
Recovering from colorectal cancer surgery – female guide
Recovering from colorectal cancer surgery – male guide
Recovering from colorectal cancer surgery – gender inclusive guide
Recovering from gynaecological cancer surgery
Recovering from gynaecological cancer surgery – gender inclusive guide
Please see the links below for more information and helpful resources to manage these common consequences of cancer.