If you or someone close to you is affected by cancer, support is available. Below is a list of trusted local and national services offering emotional, mental health, and practical help. You are encouraged to reach out in whatever way feels most comfortable.
Local Support in Cornwall
Macmillan Cancer Support – Cornwall
Macmillan offers emotional support, practical advice, and help navigating life with cancer. While services are delivered locally across Cornwall, support is also available through their national helpline.
Cornwall Hospice Care
Cornwall Hospice Care supports people with terminal illness and their families, including emotional and bereavement support. Services are available through hospice locations and community teams across Cornwall.
Access: Via GP, hospital team, or self-enquiry through their website
Notes: Support is not limited to end-of-life care and includes family and carer support.
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Your GP is often the first step to accessing cancer services, counselling, and mental health support in Cornwall. They can refer you to specialist teams, talking therapies, and community services.
Phone: Contact your local GP surgery
Urgent advice: NHS 111 (24 hours)
NHS Talking Therapies (Outlook South West – Cornwall)
Provides NHS-funded talking therapies for anxiety, depression, and emotional distress, including support for people affected by illness.
Access: Self-referral or GP referral
Notes: Available to adults living in Cornwall.
National Helplines and Support
Samaritans
A listening service for anyone who is struggling, feeling overwhelmed, or in emotional distress.
Phone: 116 123
Opening hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Notes: Free, confidential, and available to anyone.
NHS 111
For urgent health or mental health advice when it is not an emergency.
Phone: 111
Opening hours: 24 hours a day
Emergency Support
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call emergency services.
Phone: 999
A Gentle Reminder
Reaching out for support can feel difficult, especially during uncertain or exhausting times. You are not a burden for asking for help. Whether through a quiet phone call, a conversation with your GP, or listening to shared stories, support is there for you.
Other links
Simply Oncology Podcast
Covering clinical views from Cornwall on cancer topics
Cancer Care Map
www.cancercaremap.org is a free to access, online directory of cancer care services in the UK. We list over 6,000 local and national support services and all information is checked and updated regularly:
- Find information on support for families, loved ones and carers as well as those living with cancer themselves
- Find psychological and emotional support, health and wellbeing services, and practical help wherever you are in the UK
Follow us Instagram @CancerCareMap and find us on Facebook and LinkedIn
Get further support in Cornwall
Practical, Emotional & Carer Support
This is one of the main local hubs where you can get help in person or be signposted to other groups around Cornwall.
The Cove Macmillan Support Centre
A free cancer support centre at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, open Monday-Friday. They offer:
- Face-to-face support for people affected by cancer and their carers (information and listening support)
- Counselling and psychological support
- Patient and carers support groups
- Complementary therapies (e.g. Reiki, yoga)
- Nutritional advice and physiotherapy
- Wig service
- Macmillan HOPE confidence-building courses
- Benefits and welfare advice via Citizens Advice Cornwall Macmillan Project.
Tel: 01872 256363; Citizens Advice (financial advice): 01872 256373.
Carers Support Services
This service supports carers of any age, including those caring for someone with cancer.
Cornwall Carers Service
- Advice, emotional support, guidance and help with navigating your role as an unpaid carer.
- Carers Needs Assessment and Support Plans.
- Carers passport, emergency card and community support groups.
- Help accessing grants for respite care, equipment and wellbeing support.
Tel: 01736 756655 (Adviceline).
Website: cornwallcarers.org.uk.
Financial & Practical Advice
This is excellent for financial stress, managing costs linked to treatment, and maximising available support.
Macmillan Project – Citizens Advice Cornwall
- Specialist welfare benefits, grants and income maximisation advice for people with cancer and their families/carers.
- Helps with benefits applications and Macmillan Grants.
Email: macmillan@citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk
Tel: 01872 256373 / Adviceline 0808 812 7156 (Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm).
Emotional & Community Support
Support groups may meet regularly or online — The Cove and local hospital teams will have up-to-date listings.
Local Support Groups
Some community groups provide peer support and shared experiences, for example:
Lymphoma Support Group Cornwall
Peer-led support for people living with lymphoma and related conditions (email lymphomacornwall@icloud.com / Facebook group).
Cornwall Prostate Support Association (CPSA)
A group of men who currently have prostate cancer and undergoing treatment or have completed a course of treatment – you are not alone.
Website: www.cpsa-uk.org.uk
Broader Carers & Wellbeing Support
Support groups may meet regularly or online — The Cove and local hospital teams will have up-to-date listings.
Cornwall Council & Carers Service support
Information and groups for carers, community activities and wellbeing support.
Carers UK
National charity offering advice and a helpline for carers on a wide range of issues including benefits, wellbeing and carers rights (0808 808 7777).
National Cancer Support Lines (UK-wide but available to anyone in Cornwall)
These are free, confidential and offer emotional support, practical guidance and information, including online community forums and live chat:
Macmillan Support Line
0808 808 0000 — practical and emotional support every day.
Cancer Research UK Helpline
0808 800 4040 — information about treatment, coping and living with cancer.
Other Useful Resources
These are free, confidential and offer emotional support, practical guidance and information, including online community forums and live chat:
Cornwall Hospice Care Useful Links Directory
Comprehensive list covering bereavement support, carers, finances and more.
Macmillan Cancer Support Local Service Finder
Enter your postcode and browse services (support groups, financial advisers, wellbeing activities, practical help).