Macmillan Cancer Support provides the expert care and emotional support that makes a real difference to people living with cancer.   The charity offers a range of innovative cancer services and is at the heart of improving cancer care throughout the UK.   Office for Northern Ireland is based at:
 

Macmillan Cancer Support
82 Eglantine Avenue
Belfast
BT9 6EU
 

Telephone:  028 90661166
Fax:  028 90663661
Email:  belfast@macmillan.org.uk
 

Ways Macmillan can help:
 

1.            Information support – by phone, email and via Macmillan’s website
 

• The Macmillan CancerLine helps people living with cancer, and their family, friends and carers, find a way through the maze of cancer information and support.  Our specialist advisers help to identify what information you need and which organisation can best provide it. We will listen to your particular issues with empathy and respect, and explain how Macmillan can help.
  Calls are free. There is a translation service for people whose first language is not English and a textphone service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
  
  The CancerLine is open 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday. 
  Macmillan CancerLine: Freephone 0808 808 2020
   Email cancerline@macmillan.org.uk
   

• The Macmillan YouthLine  offers cancer information and support to 12 to 21 year olds who are affected by cancer, whether they are the patient or someone else is. It’s free, confidential and won’t show up on the phone bill.    The Macmillan YouthLine is open 9am-10pm Monday to Friday.    Lines may be busy but please keep trying you will get through.
  Macmillan Youthline: Freephone 0808 808 0800
   
• Later this year the Macmillan CancerLine South Asian line will launch with operators who speak Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu and Hindi and bring an understanding, heightened awareness and sensitivity of cultural issues affecting people from these communities.
  
• The Macmillan website, www.macmillan.org.uk provides a wealth of information about Macmillan’s and other cancer care services.   It also allows visitors to share stories, advice and tips about living with cancer.

2.            Health and social care specialists
 

           Macmillan health professionals are specialists in their area of cancer care and leaders in their field, and use this knowledge to help people understand more about cancer, manage their symptoms and find practical ways of living with cancer.
 

• Macmillan nurses specialise in providing care, support and information from the moment some is diagnosed with cancer onwards.    There are almost 3,000 Macmillan nurses, mostly working in the NHS.  Many are based in the community helping people live with cancer at home, while the others work in hospitals supporting people undergoing treatment.
  
• Macmillan doctors use their skills to improve cancer care.   There are currently 360 Macmillan doctors, and they are involved in co-ordinating the care of people living with cancer in their local area.
  
• Other healthcare professionals people might encounter are Macmillan information radiographers, Macmillan physiotherapists, Macmillan speech and language therapists, Macmillan clinical geneticists, Macmillan pharmacists, Macmillan dietitians, Macmillan clinical psychologists, Macmillan occupational therapists, Macmillan social workers, Macmillan benefits advisers, Macmillan information and support service managers, and Macmillan ethnic liaison officers.

3.            Cancer care centers
 

           Macmillan knows that the design of hospitals can have an impact on the way patients feel and respond to treatment, which is why Macmillan uses the latest research into healing environments to build specialist centres and units for people with cancer.   Over the last 30 years Macmillan has funded more than 148 cancer care centres and cancer information and support centres.   Macmillan plans to fund 18 new treatment and care environments in 2006.

There are 2 Macmillan buildings in Northern Ireland – the chemotherapy unit at Craigavon Hospital and the new Macmillan Support and Information Centre at Belfast City Hospital which is due to open in December 2006.

4.            Financial help
 

           Having cancer can bring extra costs – hospital parking and fares for travel to appointment, extra heating, different clothes – all this at a time when you may need to stop work for a while.

• Macmillan Grants help with a wide range of practical needs such as fares to and from hospital for treatment, heating bills and household items to make life easier.   In 2005 Macmillan distributed more than £7.6 million in grants to over 20,000 people living with cancer.
  
• Macmillan Benefits Helpline helps people with cancer, their family and carers access the benefits and other kinds of financial support they are entitled to.   Experienced benefits advisers check exactly which benefits people can claim and help with the filling in of forms.   In 2005 the Macmillan Benefits Helpline handled 6,455 cases.

The Benefits Helpline is open 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday, except Wednesday 12 – 5pm. 
Macmillan BenefitsLine: Freephone 0800 500 800
 5.            Fighting discrimination – from challenging unfair travel costs to improving the national benefits system
 

           Macmillan campaigns for a better deal for people with cancer, now and in the future.   It works to raise awareness of cancer issues and influence decision-makers at a regional and national level.   Whether they focus on raising public awareness, involve working with politicians, or both, all Macmillan’s campaigns have one common goal – to make a positive and permanent change to the lives of people affected by cancer.