An innovative cancer support service, which has already successfully helped over 350 Wandsworth residents, is now available to cancer patients in Croydon and Merton too.
Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, and in partnership with Enable, the Macmillan Community Cancer Link Workers can help people with cancer access the information and support they need.
Available by phone, face-to-face appointments, or via video call, the team offers personalised support to cancer patients and their carers. Whether it’s someone struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, or the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis.
They can also help people facing employment and housing issues as a result of having cancer, by signposting and referring to useful local and national support services.
Macmillan Community Cancer Link Worker Sam Moreno said:
“I’m really looking forward to meeting people at their point of need; to support them to manage their health and well-being. We’re here to bridge the gap between their concerns and accessing support. And being community based, I’m in a great position to signpost and refer people to accessible services that match what they’re looking for.
“Most of us will be impacted by cancer at some point. When my closest friend died of metastatic bladder cancer in 2017, the support from Macmillan was one thing that helped to make the toughest of times more bearable. As a Macmillan Community Cancer Link Worker, I’ll be striving to improve the experiences of people living with and beyond cancer by helping meet their non-medical needs. What a wonderful opportunity!”
Macmillan Community Cancer Link Worker Elaine Nangle explained:
“The sheer volume of new information people with cancer have to take on-board is just immense. From processing a diagnosis, to different treatment modes and learning the medical language, to how cancer will impact daily life, family and work – it can be really overwhelming.
“It is a real privilege to be trusted by people during an incredibly vulnerable period in their lives and to have an opportunity to possibly make this time a little less difficult. “
