Cancer Psychology

It is normal to feel emotional about your cancer diagnosis, and a range of support is available to people who have had or are affected by cancer.

Any point in your cancer journey can be overwhelming. You can experience many emotions or feel that life is out of control. The uncertainty and anxiety of this can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. There is no right or wrong way to deal with these feelings, but if you feel they interfere with your everyday life, it may be worth requesting further support.

The Cancer Psychology Team is a specialist service for adults living with and beyond cancer. We support patients who are cared for by a consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust. If you are referred to the Cancer Psychology Team, you will be offered an initial appointment to talk about your difficulties and plan for the best support. This may include being added to the waiting list for one-to-one psychological therapy or being signposted to a support group, other NBT services, or community services depending on what is considered most helpful.

One to one Support

Some of the things the Cancer Psychology Service can support individuals with are:

Coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis.
Decision-making and/or preparing for surgery or other medical treatments.
Managing physical symptoms like fatigue, pain, or changes to appearance.
Coping with emotional distress like anxiety, feeling low, and fears about the future.
Building confidence with recovery or living well with cancer.
Getting back to previous activities or adjusting to new ones.
Accessing information regarding other services offering psychological support.

The Cancer Psychology Team supports individuals in both inpatient and outpatient settings. If you would like a referral to this service, please ask your cancer support team or ward staff to refer you.

Group Support

We also offer group support for individuals who are living with, and beyond cancer. We are currently running group support for people who have been through treatment for breast cancer.

Breast Living Well Course

This is a five-week group-based programme focused on improving the wellbeing of individuals following the completion of active treatment (such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy).

Topics covered in this course include:

Managing worries.
Managing stress and fatigue.
Mindfulness.
Sleep and much more.

If you would like a referral to one of our groups, please ask your cancer support team to refer you.