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You don’t have to face cancer alone. Macmillan Cancer Support’s Sadie Smith talks about what support is available to people in Leeds.
More than 3,000 people have been helped by the Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre in Leeds during the past year. The majority are cancer patients but there are also a large number of carers, relatives and friends who visit the centre in St James’s Hospital.
People come to the centre as they are looking for support, information or just a chat. Many feel fighting cancer leaves a feeling of isolation.
“It’s a real problem, says Sadie, “especially among people who finished their treatment. They go from visiting the hospital perhaps every day but then that regular contact stops and they no longer have that support network of nurses and doctors around them. It can leave people feeling alone.
“For people just starting their treatment, there’s so much to try and take in that it can be overwhelming. It’s difficult for people around the patient too, the relatives and friends - they will also have questions and concerns.”
“Support is here, we can help”
The Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre offers a free, confidential, drop-in service for everyone. Stocked with an array of information booklets, they’re there to help people with any questions or specific concerns about cancer. Friends and family can pop in and get the answers they need.
The centre has complementary therapies available, is home to a hair loss support service and acts as a gateway to a range of other services, such as specialist Macmillan benefits advice and local support groups.
Sadie said: “When people drop-in, it can be anything from just picking up some leaflets to us sitting down together and working through very complex issues. I think it’s important that people know that support is here, and that we can help.”
The Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre is open Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm and be contacted on: 0113 2066 498
or cancersupport@leedsth.nhs.uk
The information centre is just one of the services offered by Macmillan. We’re here with medical, emotional and financial support to anybody affected by cancer.
For more about Macmillan and the services we offer, call the Macmillan Support Line free on: 0808 808 00 00
or visit
www.macmillan.org.uk