Supporting the

Neuroendocrine Cancer Community

Counselling

We offer a free, confidential service for patients and supporters, family members or friends. Our counsellors have a specialised understanding of the complex issues that can arise in being diagnosed, and living with, Neuroendocrine Cancer over time.

Feb 2024 Update: The counselling service is currently closed to new enquiries for the moment due to demand. Please check this page again after Easter for availability.

If you need to speak with someone urgently, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123, your GP / Specialist Team or text SHOUT to 85258

You may also consider joining one of our Natter Groups – check Calendar here or email natters@nc-uk.org, or call our Neuroendocrine Cancer UK Peer Support & Nurse Specialist Helpline 0800 434 6476 (Tues-Thurs 10-4)

Other sources of help include:

  • Hub of Hope (for local mental health support) https://hubofhope.co.uk/
  • MacMillan Cancer Helpline on 0808 808 00 00
  • Papyrus (For people under 35) 0800 068 41 41
  • The Silver Line (For older people) Call 0800 4 70 80 90
  • Carers UK 0808 808 7777.

If you are thinking of ending your own life, or worried that someone else might be, please let someone know. This could be a friend or family member, your GP, hospital nurse or doctor, or your local A&E.

The Samaritans provide an excellent listening service for anyone in crisis, suicidal, or feeling very alone: Call 116 123.

Or text SHOUT to 85258 – SHOUT is a 24/7 UK crisis text service available for times when people feel they need immediate support.

Sessions are carried out at a regular time to suit you via telephone, or an internet-based video service such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. Even a few sessions can help process difficult thoughts, feelings and experiences, such as:

  • The impact of diagnosis (or disease recurrence)
  • Tests: Managing ‘scan-xiety’
  • Relationships: In the family, at work, or with your medical team
  • Worries about the future
  • Pre and post-surgery or treatments
  • The emotional impact of difficult symptoms, fatigue or pain
  • Grief and loss about ‘life as it was’
  • Changes in self-esteem or identity.

My diagnosis was completely unexpected, and I was feeling really overwhelmed. I kept getting very tearful, and snappy with my husband and kids. It really helped to talk with someone outside my family and friends about how angry and frightened I was. Although I’m still adapting, it’s helped me get to a different place emotionally.

I was really struggling to come to terms with how the surgery, treatment and symptoms were impacting on my life. I’d been determined the diagnosis wouldn’t make any difference to me, but I was exhausted and very low. I didn’t really think ‘just talking’ would work, but counselling showed me that in accepting the things that have changed, life can still be good.”

Neuroendocrine Cancer UK Counsellors

David Phipps

David Phipps

MBACP, EAC (Accred.)

David has over 15 years’ experience working for IAPT, GP surgeries and in hospital/residential psychotherapy services. He has had a long-term interest in supporting those living with physical health conditions to live well, and now works primarily online with rare or chronic disease patients across the world.

Rebecca

Rebecca

MBACP

Becca’s early professional background is in Nursing. She brings to our service not only medical knowledge, but professional experience of NHS services and systems.

As well as working with RareMinds, she is the part-time Clinical Lead in a Counselling Service for staff and students in a large secondary school. Becca brings experience of working with adolescents, safeguarding and running workshops for parents, students and professionals.

Feb 2024 Update: The counselling service is currently closed to new enquiries for the moment due to demand. Please check this page again after Easter for availability.

If you need to speak with someone urgently, please contact the Samaritans on 116 123, your GP / Specialist Team or text SHOUT to 85258

You may also consider joining one of our Natter Groups – check Calendar here or email natters@nc-uk.org, or call our Neuroendocrine Cancer UK Peer Support & Nurse Specialist Helpline 0800 434 6476 (Tues-Thurs 10-4)

Other sources of help include:

  • Hub of Hope (for local mental health support) https://hubofhope.co.uk/
  • MacMillan Cancer Helpline on 0808 808 00 00
  • Papyrus (For people under 35) 0800 068 41 41
  • The Silver Line (For older people) Call 0800 4 70 80 90
  • Carers UK 0808 808 7777.

Further Support / Get in touch

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Speak to a counsellor

Email a request for an initial consultation or preliminary chat to explore more about counselling.

Other help available

If you do not feel the need, or ready, to talk to a counsellor but would nevertheless welcome some support, these resources may be useful.

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer

Finding a ‘new normal’ and how to adapt to changes has been key in learning to live well with Neuroendocrine Cancer.

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What is Neuroendocrine Cancer?

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer

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