Overview
Dimbleby Cancer Care
We offer support and information during and after your cancer treatment. This includes:
- cancer information and support drop-in service
- complementary therapies
- psychological therapies
- welfare and benefits advice
Each service is led by specialists who work alongside your medical team to give you, your family and carers the support you need.
We run daily outpatient clinics and visit wards and the chemotherapy village.
Our drop-in information service runs every day at the Cancer Centre at Guy's. It runs on selected days at Queen Mary's Hospital (QMH), Sidcup.
Accessing our services
All 4 teams have different referral criteria but the way to access them is the same.
You can self-refer for some of our services:
- at reception at the Cancer Centre at Guy's or Queen Mary's Hospital
- phone: 020 7188 5918
- email: gst-tr.dimblebycancercare@nhs.net
If you're being treated by Guy's Cancer, you can ask your medical team to arrange a referral to any of our services.
Your GP or other health professional can also email gst-tr.dimblebycancercare@nhs.net to request a referral form.
Cancer support and information
There's a wide range of information, advice and support available from other organisations and sources.
Many of the following resources are specific to South East London, but to find resources in your area, simply enter your postcode or keyword into the Cancer Care Map.
Macmillan Buddies for emotional, financial and physical help for people with cancer.
Maggie’s Barts with access to support groups (online and in person), financial advice, wellbeing and exercise groups, complementary therapies, and bereavement support.
Cancer Research UK for financial advice, practical information and support with a free nurse-run telephone helpline on 0808 800 4040
Age UK supporting older people with information and advice regarding benefits, housing, debt, employment, social care and health care.
Penny Brohn for self care resources about nutrition, exercise and emotional support.
Brain and Spine Foundation peer support groups for neurological conditions
IA local group for people with a stoma
OPA cancer charity online community for oesophageal and gastric cancer support
OUTpatients offer support for LGBTQIA+ people affected by cancer.
Shine Charity is a community of young cancer patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s
The Swallows social groups for people with head and neck cancer
Take A Breather non-smoking related lung cancer support group
Brother 2 Brother, Man to Man for Black men with prostate cancer, email: B2BM2M@gstt.nhs.uk
For advanced prostate cancer support in south east London, email advancedprostatecancerclub@gstt.nhs.uk
London Friend is a charity supporting the health and mental wellbeing of the LGBT community in and around London.
Elder Chinese Well-being and Support Project provide classes and activities for older adults in the Chinese community in east London
Baked Beans Performing Arts provides drama, music and arts classes and holidays for people with learning disabilities
Flashy Wings is non-denominational but based on Christian values and hosts events for local women
Advice about getting active from NHS Better Health
Exercising with arthritis from Versus Arthritis
Our cancer rehabilitation service can assess you and provide an individual rehabilitation plan based on your needs
Free swim and gym sessions for Southwark residents by registering online or in a local leisure centre
Maggie's centres have a range of free exercise classes for different abilities
ThriveFit classes for cancer recovery, free and online
Walking groups for over 65s in Barking, Dagenham, Havering, and Redbridge
Walking football for people live with cancer and injuries and their loves ones and carers
Feeling Good App for audio programmes that can lift your mood, and increase your wellbeing and resilience to stress.
Cancer Hair Care at Guy's Cancer Centre for free specialist support.
Look Good Feel Better wellbeing workshops and classes for people living with cancer.
Macmillan's choosing bras after breast surgery
Talking therapies in Southwark for help with a wide range of psychological and emotional problems.
Carers
Support for unpaid carers - Carers UK
Paid home care guidance - SuperCarers
Get help at home after a stay in hospital - British Red Cross
Family and friends
How to tell people you have cancer - Macmillan
Making decisions about your care
Someone to speak up for you (advocate) - NHS.UK
Shared decision making using BRAN - Choosing Wisely UK
Let's talk: advance care planning
Money and work
Impartial advice about housing, finances, benefits, work and services - Citizens Advice
Pets
Pet care when you have cancer - Macmillan
A lifetime of care with a Canine Care Card - Dogs Trust
Transport and parking
Surgery at our hospitals is our guide to what happens when you have surgery at Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals, including how to prepare, what to expect, recovery, and support along the way.
NHS Better Health can support with quitting smoking, including finding a local stop smoking service. There's also information about drinking less alcohol.
The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA)'s Fitter Better Sooner aims to help you prepare your body and mind before surgery.
The British Heart Foundation offers practical and emotional support, and has lots of information about surgery, including how to have the best chance of recovery by getting in shape for surgery.
Now What? podcast: listen now
Hosted by TV presenter Julia Bradbury and recorded by our patients, the Now What podcast can educate and support you through what can be an uncertain and frightening time.
Themes of the 10 episodes were chosen by patients to cover aspects of cancer diagnosis, treatment and living with cancer, which patients said they wanted more first-hand accounts of. This includes receiving a diagnosis, telling loved ones, deciding to have surgery and the cultural perspectives of cancer. Each episode provides practical advice, emotional support and highlights local resources.
Through the episodes, current and past patients speak honestly about their own experiences and hope to dispel myths, and help tackle loneliness and isolation.
Stream now with Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
