Receiving a diagnosis of cancer, undergoing unpleasant treatments and learning to adapt to life with cancer can be a major challenge which can threaten our ability to maintain our quality of life.

People find that talking to family and friends and health care professionals about the illness and its effects can help. Patients and carers can gain a greater senser of clarity and support, by getting things off one’s chest and talking out loud for the first time.

Research has shown that for some people, talking to a psychologist really helps. When difficult feelings, memories or thoughts get stuck in our mind or keep going round and round in our head, it can make us feel miserable and stop us from doing the things we want to do. Talking about them can help us make sense of them and allows us to focus on what we want to get out of life.

Pan Birmingham Cancer Network, together with Macmillan Cancer Support, now provides Clinical Psychologists who can see cancer patients, their carers and family members.

You can talk to them about things like: 

• Dealing with a sense that your future is uncertain.
• Managing the demands of home and family life while caring for yourself.
• Feelings of depression and anxiety.
• Feeling unhappy about the way you look.
• Relationship and sexual difficulties.
• Coping with adjustments and change.
• Coping with treatment and the psychological elements of pain management.

For more information on these issues, please visit the Patient information leaflets page which have leaflets on psychology services.

If you are not sure whether or not to ask for a referral, then the self-assessment questionnaire which you can download below, may help you determine whether you might benefit from professional counselling.

To ask for an appointment or speak to a Psychologist please telephone: 
Ms Karen Bassett (Cancer Psychology Secretary) on 0121 371 3617.

Referrals can also be made by your Consultant or Clinical Nurse Specialist.