The web Directory of Information Materials for People Affected by Cancer is regularly updated and currently has details of over 1,900 booklets, leaflets, books and audiovisual materials for people affected by cancer. Most have been published in the last five years but we have included some older ones that are still useful.
Public Health England
This leaflet aims to help people decide if they want to take part in bowel screening. It explains why bowel screening is offered, who is invited to take part, how bowel screening works, how to use the FIT kit, the results and what happens if a further test (colonoscopy) is needed, and the possible risks and benefits of screening. It also describes the risks of developing bowel cancer and how to reduce the risk.
Public Health England
This leaflet aims to help people decide if they want to take part in bowel screening. It explains why bowel screening is offered, who is invited to take part, how bowel screening works, how to use the FIT kit, the results and what happens if a further test (colonoscopy) is needed, and the possible risks and benefits of screening. It also describes the risks of developing bowel cancer and how to reduce the risk.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is about breast cancer in women. It is for women who are having tests for breast cancer and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. It covers breast cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body and describes the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, stages, and treatment (including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy). It also discusses issues such as fertility, hormone replacement therapy, and feelings. Includes details of useful organisations and other resources.
Prostate Cancer UK
This factsheet describes how permanent seed brachytherapy may be used to treat prostate cancer, who can have it, the advantages and disadvantages, what happens after treatment, and the possible side effects. It does not describe external beam radiotherapy or high dose rate brachytherapy.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is about coping with cancer while you are self-employed or running a small business. It is for sole traders, freelancers, contractors or those running a micro business (one that employs fewer than 10 people). It includes information and guidance about: how treatment might affect your work; things to consider when making decisions about your business; talking to clients or customers about your situation; getting support with your business or personal finances.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland
Lifestyle tips for men to help reduce the risk of cancer.
Macmillan Cancer Support and British Heart Foundation
Some people affected by cancer have problems with their heart health. This is because some cancer treatments can affect the heart. Problems can also arise if you already have a heart condition when you’re diagnosed with cancer. This booklet is for you if: you’ve been told that your cancer treatment may affect your heart; you have a heart condition and need cancer treatment; you’d like to find out how you can improve the health of your heart before, during and after cancer treatment.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet aims to help people with cancer cope with issues that they may face at work both during treatment and afterwards.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This information is about help with costs if you have cancer. Includes English-language version.
Cancer Focus Northern Ireland
Lifestyle tips for women to help reduce the risk of cancer.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This easy to use booklet contains up-to-date information about benefits and other sources of financial help for people affected by cancer.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This information is for you if you are supporting a friend, family member or partner who has cancer. You probably want to help, but you might not know what you can do. This leaflet talks about the different stages of having cancer to help you understand what your friend, family member or partner is going through. We explain diagnosis, treatment and what happens after treatment. Each section has practical tips on how you can support the other person and suggestions for how to talk to them about what they are going through.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is for anyone who has cancer or has had treatment for cancer and is thinking about becoming more physically active. It explains what physical activity is, its benefits and how to be safe when exercising. It also includes information about the types of activity you can do and how to get started.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is about coping with your feelings when someone close to you has cancer. It is for anyone who is close to someone with cancer, including partners, family members and friends. This booklet replaces two booklets: Be there for someone facing cancer; and Coping when someone close to you has cancer.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet explains the effects that cancer and its treatment can have on the body and suggests ways of dealing with these.
Crohn's and Colitis UK
Crohn’s and Colitis can increase the risk of bowel cancer in some people, particularly for those whose condition affects all or most of their large bowel. This information sheet looks at the relationship between bowel cancer and Crohn’s and Colitis, and how you can reduce your risk. It also describes changes in the lining of the bowel that may develop into cancer, and how these changes are detected.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This factsheet is about claiming benefits. Includes the English-language version..
Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group
This guide describes stem cells and explains what a stem cell transplantation is, why it might be necessary, and the different types of transplants. It also describes the process of finding a donor, the pre-transplant operation, the transplant team, what to bring to hospital, preparing to receive a bone marrow transplant, what happens during the transplant and afterwards, the side-effects, getting ready to go home and getting back to normal. Includes details of useful organisations and a glossary.
Prostate Cancer UK
This factsheet is for men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones. It explains what metastatic spinal cord compression is and describes the risk of developing it, the symptoms and the treatment options.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is for people who have cancer that has come back or spread. This is sometimes called advanced cancer. It looks at some of the concerns you may be dealing with and has advice about ways of coping. It also talks about treatments and your feelings and has practical information about getting help and support.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Information about cancer of unknown primary (CUP). This booklet explains what CUP is and why the primary cancer cannot be found, and describes how it is diagnosed, the tests that might be carried out, and the treatment options. It also covers coping with CUP, feelings, and financial help.
Colostomy Association
This leaflet describes what may cause pain and discomfort following Hartmann's procedure or loop stoma or abdomino-perineal excision of the rectum (APER), coping strategies and treatments available. Patients share their experiences.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is about talking about cancer. It is for anyone who has a cancer diagnosis. It explains: the benefits of talking about cancer; how to overcome the things that make talking difficult; how to deal with other people’s reactions. It also has practical tips for talking and asking for support.
Kidney Cancer UK
Factsheet with information about clinical trials. It describes the different phases of trials, who conducts trials and where they take place and has advice about deciding whether to participate.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet explains how certain cancer treatments can cause changes to your appearance. It is for people who have had changes to their skin, nails and hair because of cancer treatment. It gives advice on how to manage these changes to help you feel more like you again. We hope it helps you deal with some of the questions or feelings you may have.
Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group
Illustrated, colour booklet for children who may be donating bone marrow or stem cells to a sibling. It describes stem cells and stem cell transplants, why a transplant is needed, the types of transplants, the selection process, tissue typing, harvesting the bone marrow (including the risks and side-effects), and what happens if the transplant is unsuccessful. It also covers issues such as consent, what to take into hospital, and changes to sibling relationships. Includes details of useful organisations and a glossary of terms.
NHS Health Scotland
Information for women about their cervical screening test results, including: the letters that may be received; what happens at the colposcopy clinic; treatment; what causes changes in the cervix.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Having cancer affects all areas of your life, including the way you feel. This booklet is about the main emotions that many people with cancer have. This may be after diagnosis, during treatment or after treatment has ended.
NHS Health Scotland
Information for women about their cervical screening test results, including: the letters that may be received; what happens at the colposcopy clinic; treatment; what causes changes in the cervix.
Bloodwise
Burkitt lymphoma is a fast-growing form of blood cancer that can affect adults and children. This fact sheet explains what Burkitt lymphoma is, how it’s diagnosed and treated in adults, and where to go for more support.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet is about how cancer and its treatment can affect your sex life. It is for anyone who needs information about this before, during or after cancer treatment. This information is for you whether or not you are in a relationship or having sex. We hope you find it helpful whatever your sexual orientation or gender.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This guide has information and practical for employers about how to support employees affected by cancer. It includes examples of best practice and also covers employers' responsibilities and employees' rights.
Bloodwise
This fact sheet is for people who may be chosen to donate stem cells to someone else. It explains how stem cell transplants can help people with blood cancer, and what happens when you donate stem cells.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This information is about help with costs if you have cancer.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This information is about help with costs if you have cancer. Includes English-language version.
AMEND (Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders)
Guidance for those caring for, or close to, someone living with an endocrine tumour.
Breast Cancer Care
This leaflet describes what letrozole (Femara®) is, how it works, when it may be prescribed, how it is taken, and the possible side-effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet aims to help working carers cope with work issues they may face because of the impact of their caring role on working life. It describes who a carer is, the different ways of caring, and the impact of cancer treatment on the working carer. It has advice about what to say at work, talking to employers, the legal rights of carers in paid work, social care, financial support, and bereavement. Includes details of useful organisations and websites.
Breast Cancer Care
This booklet explains what exemestane is, how it works, when it may be prescribed and possible side effects.
Lymphoma Action
Many people with cancer have fatigue and this extreme tiredness is often called ‘cancer-related fatigue’. This factsheet answers the most common questions people ask about fatigue, including: what it is; why cancer causes fatigue; who gets it; how it feels; how long it lasts; how it is assessed; how it is treated; and how to cope.
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
A teenage girl heads towards the hospital waiting room where the doctors are going to tell her how much time she's got to live. As she walks, she thinks about her journey up to this point… the terrible decor in the hospital, wearing a headscarf, the horrible treatments, but also being with her friends, family, and her new boyfriend Victor. This is a story about cancer with a happy ending. It's about life, love, and especially, hope. (Publisher)
Lymphoma Action
An overview of how cancer develops and what lymphoma is.
Breast Cancer Care
This leaflet explains briefly what Arimidex® is, how it works, when it may be prescribed, how it is taken and the possible side-effects.
Ovacome
This briefing looks at the complementary therapies that are most commonly used by people with ovarian cancer, how they can help to manage treatment side effects and improve quality of life.
Ovacome
This briefing looks at the issues raised among family members, children and friends when someone is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It also gives sources of help and support.
Ovacome
This briefing looks at the experience of returning to work after an ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment, the importance of talking to your employer as soon as possible, your rights under the law and what to expect from your employer.
Ovacome
This factsheet has information about targeted therapies that can be used to treat ovarian cancer. It describes how they are used, their risks and benefits and how to access them.
Ovacome
This factsheet gives information about how clinical trials are conducted and about taking part in trials that test new treatments for ovarian cancer.
Lymphoma Action
This factsheet describes the use of ibrutinib for the treatment of certain types of lymphoma (relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma; relapsed or refractory CLL; CLL and a 17p deletion). It covers what ibrutinib is, who can have it and who cannnot, its benefits, how it is given, side effects and precautions while being treated.
NHS Health Scotland
This leaflet explains what breast screening is, who is offered screening, the benefits and disadvantages of screening, what happens before, during, and after screening, and what it means to be called back. Includes breast awareness advice. Concludes with answers to questions that women may ask.