Funding For Our Cancer Information Service:

We are seeking funding to provide free cancer information sessions for those affected by cancer. 

We Need Your Help!

This service costs  over £20,000 per year to provide over 400  cancer information sessions to patients and carers, we are seeking funding to secure the delivery of this service and to expand our sessions by employing an additional Cancer Information Nurse.

About our Cancer Information Service:

People with cancer are often asked to make treatment decisions and require information about their cancer diagnosis and its impact. At Star Throwers we aim to help cancer patients and their carers understand the information that has been provided by their medical team e.g. translating medical reports or explain why specific investigations are required. This will enable those affected by cancer to work with their medical team to plan appropriate treatments going forwards. Our support service is completely free of charge. 

Star Throwers cancer information service aims to:

• make peer-reviewed cancer research literature accessible and understandable.
• help cancer patients and carers understand the evidence for and against alternative treatments .
• help cancer patients and carers understand and explore the possibility of relevant clinical trials.

Please note: Star Throwers does not offer medical advice and we encourage people to talk to their medical team before making any final decisions.

Who do we support?

Our support services are available to cancer patients and carers (age 18+) with any form of cancer at any stage of their diagnosis. 

People who have been newly diagnosed with cancer may find themselves feeling confused and anxious, with many questions about their cancer, treatment options and the impact it will have on themselves and their family. Our cancer information sessions can help patients to better understand their cancer diagnosis and the treatment options available to them. 

For patients that have received news that their cancer has reached an advanced stage that is not amenable to any more treatments that the hospital can offer (and may have been referred onto a palliative care pathway) Star Throwers can offer support (if appropriate) in researching and exploring further treatment options, such clinical trials and alternative treatments.

For patients whose cancer treatment has finished there might be the expectation or pressure to quickly get back to the ‘normal’ life they had before cancer. However, for some people it can take a lot longer to recover from cancer treatment than they expected. Patients may still be suffering from the effects of their cancer and cancer treatment(s), physically and mentally, or be worried about the cancer returning or have questions about the long term effects of treatment. Star Throwers helps people recover at their own pace and our cancer information sessions can help with those 'next steps' and sign post to our other supportive services. 

Our cancer information sessions are also beneficial for those caring for someone with cancer who are often the primary advocate for their loved one, doing all the research, trying to find any information that may be helpful whilst trying to maintain a positive outlook. Star Throwers is here to help support carers whilst they support a loved one. 

Why are these cancer information sessions so important right now?

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer services has been huge, with an estimated drop of 70% in referrals and 1 in 3 patients having their treatment impacted. As a result, 7 out of 10 people who experienced delays in their treatment or diagnosis felt frustrated and anxious - our cancer information sessions can help ease some of these pressures and emotions at this time. We predict that demand for our cancer information sessions (and other services) will continue to increase as the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system are experienced.

About Star Throwers

Since the Star Throwers cancer support centre opened in 2009 we have supported over 2,500 people affected by cancer with individual information support sessions and wellbeing therapies all completely free of charge. 

In 2020 we provided 516 individual and group support sessions to 140 cancer patients and their carers - this was through a combination of virtual and in-person appointments due to our centre being closed to the public from March 2020. 

If you know anyone who would benefit from our services, please get in contact or visit our website to find out more: www.starthrowers.org.uk