Urgent help

Cancer

As the NHS Integrated Care Board for Norfolk and Suffolk, we are committed to improving cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support for everyone living in our communities. We work closely with our local hospitals, community services, charities and support organisations to ensure that people affected by cancer receive high-quality, compassionate care at every stage of their journey.

Together with our NHS partners and voluntary sector organisations, we are dedicated to supporting you, your family and carers throughout your cancer journey.

Information on cancer

You can find information on the different cancers, including symptoms, treatment and prevention on the NHS website.

Screenings

Attending cancer screening when you are invited is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health. Screening can help detect cancer at an early stage, often before you notice any symptoms. When cancer is found early, treatment is more likely to be successful and may be less intensive.

Across Norfolk and Suffolk, we offer NHS screening programmes designed to save lives and reduce the impact of cancer in our communities. If you receive an invitation, we strongly encourage you to attend your appointment. If you are unsure about your invitation or have concerns about taking part, please speak to your GP practice.

If you notice any worrying signs, symptoms or changes that are not normal for you, please do not wait for a screening invitation – go and see your GP. 

Cancer support and resources

Each NHS Trust has information about their cancer services, including information on services and treatment:

Cancer Care Navigators

Cancer Care Navigators are based in hospitals and work alongside your cancer team to help and support people affected by cancer. They offer non-clinical support to people affected by cancer and can signpost to local support services.

The Cancer Care Navigators can be contacted using the following numbers:

Local NHS local support services

The Big C Charity has support centres based in the grounds of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Dereham Road, plus Railway Road, King’s Lynn and Regent Street, Great Yarmouth. Big C also offers monthly appointments at Peartree and provides counselling and complementary therapy at Macmillan, Cromer.

Cancer Support Suffolk is a local independent charity providing emotional support, counselling, complementary therapies and wellbeing workshops for people affected by cancer across Suffolk.

Dereham Cancer Care is a local charity supporting people whose lives are affected by cancer, offers support, information and friendship.

Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre provides free information, practical advice and emotional support to people affected by cancer, including patients, families and carers, in a welcoming hospital-based setting.

Norfolk Community Directory – Cancer Charities provides an extensive list of cancer charities within Norfolk.

The Pear Tree Centre in Halesworth offers support, information, counselling, and benefits advice.

Star Throwers Cancer Support Charity in Wymondham provide information about diagnosis and treatment options, counselling, nutrition support, lymphoedema support, scar therapy, financial advice and a wide range of complementary therapies and support groups.

Stowmarket Cancer Support Group – Cake, Cancer and Coffee is a friendly local support group offering people affected by cancer the chance to meet, share experiences and enjoy informal peer support over coffee and cake in a relaxed setting.

You can search the Cancer Care Map or the ‘Macmillan Support In Your Area’ tool to find information on cancer services in your area.

Cancer toolkit

An online Cancer Toolkit is available on our partner site, Knowledge NoW (a resource hub for patients and staff) for anyone who wants to know about cancer. 

The toolkit aims to guide you at different stages of the cancer journey, whether you want to know how to prevent cancer, or perhaps you’re starting treatment and would like to find out more about the types of treatment

The toolkit aims to provide guidance and links to resources that are available to provide support.

Cancer Toolkit