Cancer Support Groups

Support groups local to Ipswich | National support groups (including online)

If you cannot find a support group local to Ipswich to suit a particular diagnosis (e.g. lung cancer, gastro-intestinal cancer, urological cancer), please follow this link to the Cancer Support Groups page for the Colchester Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre or this link to CancerCareMap.

Support groups local to the Ipswich area

These provide the opportunity to chat and share experiences, listen to speakers, have social events and meet new friends who are likely to have shared experiences. Very occasionally the time or date may change, so please check before attending.

Gynaecological Cancer Support: Womens Help Hope - Ipswich

Women’s Health Hope is an organisation open to all who are affected by women’s health conditions - this is not specific to gynaecological cancers alone.

The group has meetings every first Tuesday of the month and they are held at Ipswich Hospital within the Gynaecology Clinic, 1st floor in the maternity building from 6.30pm-8pm.

For further information follow this link to the organisation’s website or facebook page.

Head and Neck Cancer Support Group - Ipswich

A support group for people with a diagnosis of a head and neck cancer will hold meetings from 7:00-8:30pm at Rushmere Bowls Club (136 Rushmere Rd, Ipswich IP4 4JU). Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every month.

If you wish to join the group, turn up to the meetings or contact the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre on 01473 715748

The group is run in conjunction with Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Charity.

East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group - Bury St Edmunds

All the meetings can be joined in person or online for anyone living in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The meetings are held at The Southgate Community Centre, Caie Walk IP33 2PJ at 12:30 on the second Thursday of the month.

Contact: 07852 217560, info@eastofenglandasbestos.co.uk

For further information please see the website for the organisation: www.eastofenglandasbestos.co.uk

Lymphoma/ CLL Support Group - Ipswich

The meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the odd months during the year at: Salvation Army, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich IP4 4PH

Contact: Nik Gill or Almira Flatman (Alf) 01473 704946

Breast Cancer Support Group - Ipswich

The group is for anyone with primary breast cancer, whether you are recently diagnosed, currently receiving treatment or finished treatment.

The Group meets on the third Thursday of each month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Salvation Army Citadel, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich IP4 4PH.

If you wish to join the group, please contact the Ipswich Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre on 01473 715748

A group for people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer is available in Colchester. Further details can be obtained by contacting the Colchester Cancer Wellbeing and Information Centre on 01206 745 347, email: esneft.cancerwell-beingcentre@esneft.nhs.uk.

Moving Forward with Breast Cancer Now

The charity Breast Cancer Now offers a free “Moving Forward” course for people with a diagnosis of primary breast cancer. A face-to-face version of the “Moving Forward” course will run regularly in Ipswich taking place over two half-day sessions. For more information and to register for the course, please follow this link.

On the Moving Forward course you can expect sessions on wellbeing, managing significant change, and you'll have the opportunity to speak with a health care professional to ask any medical-based questions.

Skin Cancer Support Group - Ipswich

Prostate Cancer Support Group - Ipswich

Meets at 7pm on the first Wednesday of every even month of the year in the Education Centre at Ipswich Hospital. Partners are welcome to attend all meetings. A video produced by the Support Group can be viewed at this link.

Contact: Jeff Willmot on 07581 034686 or Dennis Kell on 07484 327935

Myeloma Support Group - Ipswich

In 2025 the meetings will be held at 12:30-2:00pm on the last Thursday every other month: February 27th, April 24th, June 26th, August 28th and October 30th. The venue will be at the Salvation Army, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich IP4 4PH.

Contact:  Jayne Chappels on 01473 704946, email: Jayne.chappels@esneft.nhs.uk

East Suffolk Ostomy Support Group - Ipswich

Contact: Ian Denison on 07544 978815, Jennie Roche on 01394 284637, Helen Wright on 07941 738630, or contact your local NHS Stoma Nurse.

Colorectal Cancer: Support and information (Red Trouser Day)

Cake, Cancer and Coffee Support Group - Stowmarket

First Sunday of every month, 3 - 5pm at Red Gables, Ipswich Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1BE. For people affected by cancer; carers, family and friends to share tips, experience and support.

Contact: Clair on 07725 843236
email: Stowmarket.cancer.chat@gmail.com
Website: www.cakecancerandcoffee.org, www.facebook.com/cakecancerandcoffee

Cake, Cancer and Coffee Support Group - Ipswich Chantry

See Suffolk Libraries Website for further information.

Contact: Chantry Library 01473 927275

Cancer Support Group - Leiston

Knit and Natter group - Felixstowe

The Knit and Natter group is run by and for people with a cancer diagnosis and those affected by cancer (knitting is optional). The group meets on Thursdays 10:00 – 12:00 at Trinity Methodist Church, Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7AN. Contact the group for further information using the e-mail address below.

email: knitandchatip11@gmail.com

ICAN Cancer Aid Network - Ipswich

Meets on the first and third Friday of the month from 10am - 12 noon at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Britannia Road, Ipswich, IP4 5HF This group is for everyone affected by cancer including friends and family who support someone with cancer. The group provides social activities, visits and has regular speakers.

Contact: Pat on 01473 689788 or Keith: Telephone 01473 415585

Website: Ipswich Cancer Aid Network ICAN

Teenage and Young People Wellbeing days - Ipswich

Dates to be confirmed, please check for details. The group offers support, information and social activities along with Wellbeing days.

Individual support is also available

Contact: Dan Jolley on 01473 702202 or Julie Finbow on 01473 715748

Sarcoma Support Network (East Anglia)

The group meet on the last Friday of the month between 1pm and 3pm at the BigC, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UY.

These meetings are hybrid, with people being able to choose between attending The Big C Centre or joining online via Zoom. 

Website: Sarcoma Support Group (East Anglia).

Contact: Tony Grover on 07941 434351 or email: eassn@talktalk.net

Major National Support Groups (including online)

Macmillan links to support groups - National and online forums

This link takes you to a directory of many of the local support groups

website:  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/in-your-area/choose-location.html

Macmillan also provide more than 60 online forums for specific types of cancer as part of the Macmillan Online Community. Posts can be viewed without registration. If you wish to make a post in a forum registration is required.

website: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types

Lymphoma Action national charity - National

This charity has an on-line community forum and closed Facebook groups. There is a buddy system that matches you with a volunteer to offer you support over the phone or by email

Visit:  www.lymphomas.org.uk
Tel: 0808 8085555
email: information@lymphoma-action.org.uk

Cancer Research UK support resources - National

This link takes you to a number of recognised local services

Website:  https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping

National Cancer Research Institute NCRI - National

This is a good place to start if you are looking for (or wish to get involved with) National research projects

Website: https://www.ncri.org.uk/patient-and-public-involvement/