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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.
Age UK
Information on the services available to older people and their carers to enable them to stay in their own home, including local authority social services, voluntary organisations, private care agencies, and the NHS.
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Cancer and its treatment can affect appetite and enjoyment of food. This booklet has been written to help people eat well when they have a poor appetite or are losing weight. It suggests foods to eat to maintain a healthy diet, foods to avoid, nourishing and supplementary drinks, and high-energy foods. It also has advice for times when eating is difficult, as a result, for example, of fatigue, nausea, sore mouth, diarrhoea, or constipation. Includes recipes and sources of further information and support.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie has written this Easy Read booklet to tell you about the different people who can help if you are caring for someone with an illness they will probably die from.
Marie Curie
This leaflet aims to help you understand ascites (build-up of fluid in the abdomen), what causes it and how it can be treated. It explains how the fluid can be removed in a procedure called ascitic drainage, or paracentesis.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie has written this Easy Read booklet to help you think about money and work if you are caring for someone with an illness they will probably die from.
NHS Health Scotland
From academic year 2019/20, every S1 pupil, regardless of gender, can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free. This leaflet is about the HPV immunisation, which is offered to boys and girls to protect them against head and neck, cervical and anogenital cancers.
NHS Health Scotland
From academic year 2019/20, every S1 pupil, regardless of gender, can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free. This leaflet is about the HPV immunisation, which is offered to boys and girls to protect them against head and neck, cervical and anogenital cancers.
Prostate Scotland
Guidance for men who are making a decision about treatment. Includes a chart with brief details of the treatments, what's involved and potential side effects.
Blood Cancer UK
Mucositis is a condition that affects your mucous membrane, the thin skin that covers and protects the inside surface of parts of your body. It can be a painful side effect of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This factsheet explains how it is caused and who gets it, and describes the signs and symptoms, and how to look after yourself.
NHS Health Scotland
From academic year 2019/20, every S1 pupil, regardless of gender, can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free. This leaflet is about the HPV immunisation, which is offered to boys and girls to protect them against head and neck, cervical and anogenital cancers.
Age UK
Thinking about the end of life can be difficult, but being well informed can help people consider all their options at a time that’s right for them. This guide will make suggestions about the options and services available to help people make the best choices. It will explain how to make wishes and treatment preferences known, and help peole consider where they would like to be looked after towards the end of life.
Breast Cancer Care
This booklet has been written for anyone referred to a breast clinic. It describes what to expect and the tests that may be carried out, such as a mammogram, an ultrasound scan, fine needle aspiration cytology, core biopsy, punch biopsy and vacuum-assisted biopsy.
NHS Health Scotland
This leaflet explains what a cervical screening test is, what causes changes in the cervix, and describes how to make an appointment, what happens during the test and if changes are detected. It addresses the concerns of women who may not have been sexually active, are lesbian/bisexual, menopausal, or pregnant.
Colostomy UK
Adapting to life with a stoma can be challenging and the thought of exercise may well be the last thing on your mind as you recover from surgery. This booklet has advice on exercises to try and how to manage your stoma while exercising or playing sport.
Bowel Cancer UK
This factsheet is about using a stent to unblock your bowel if it has become blocked due to bowel cancer. It explains why you might have a stent fitted, what’s involved, and the possible complications.
Breast Cancer Care
This leaflet uses illustrations to show women how to check their breasts and the changes to look for. Includes English-language version.
Breast Cancer Care
This leaflet uses illustrations to show women how to check their breasts and the changes to look for. Includes English-language version.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie has written this Easy Read booklet to help you think about looking after yourself if you are caring for someone with a an illness they will probably die from.
NHS Health Scotland
From academic year 2019/20, every S1 pupil, regardless of gender, can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free. This leaflet is about the HPV immunisation, which is offered to boys and girls to protect them against head and neck, cervical and anogenital cancers.
NHS Health Scotland
From academic year 2019/20, every S1 pupil, regardless of gender, can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free. This leaflet is about the HPV immunisation, which is offered to boys and girls to protect them against head and neck, cervical and anogenital cancers.
Breast Cancer Care
This leaflet uses illustrations to show women how to check their breasts and the changes to look for. Includes English-language version.
Leukaemia Care
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a new type of cancer treatment that may be used to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This booklet explains how CAR-T therapy works and who may currently receive it, and describes the possible side-effects. It also discusses the likely future for CAR-T therapy and the clinical trials currently taking place in the UK. It includes a glossary of terms and details of further information and support.
Librotas
Two days after celebrating her 50th birthday, Juliette Chan had an unexpected birthday present: bowel cancer. Luckily, they caught it early, but once the treatment was over, the psychological side-effects surfaced. For many months, Juliette was adrift and felt lost. It seemed that everything in her life was up for review and she struggled to gain clarity about what to do next. There were many questions, such as: When will I feel normal again; Why am I not as motivated as before; Will the cancer come back; Why am I mentally exhausted. It took her a while to realise that the cancer had caused a whole load of losses: loss of trust in her body, self-image as a fit and healthy person, energy, confidence, motivation, income and much more. And that’s when the penny dropped; she was grieving. Cancer not only involves coping with the physical disease and treatment – it also means experiencing and dealing with hidden losses that will affect how you view and live your life. Every time you experience a loss, there is an emotional response: grief. Most people only associate grief with bereavement but it is in fact a natural reaction to any and all losses, including the hidden and intangible losses you face with cancer. Anyone who has or has had cancer, as well as their family and friends, will experience grief – because life has changed. This can show up as anger, frustration, anxiety, ‘depression’, fear, sadness, for example. If left unchecked or suppressed, grief will affect your mental health and emotional wellbeing. It doesn’t have to be like this; it is possible to take care of the emotional and mental impact of cancer and to live well. In her easy, relaxed style of writing, Juliette explains the emotional and mental impact of cancer and highlights the limitations of Mindfulness and positive thinking. She has also included a workbook with simple practical exercises that help to release the psychological side-effects and provide clarity. You can also read the candid stories of eight others who faced cancer: Robert describes his initial feelings of shock on diagnosis and how others helped him to cope, whereas Meena recounts going it alone; Petra shares how she continued to run throughout her treatment, and Susan talks movingly about the seemingly endless decision-making from diagnosis onwards; Mary, Tony and June recount their unique experiences of the same cancer
British Association of Dermatologists
This factsheet aims to help you understand more about photodynamic therapy, which may be used to treat basal cell carcinoma and areas of pre-cancerous skin damage. It explains what it is and what is involved, and describes the potential side effects.
Leukaemia Care
This booklet is for people adjusting to life after diagnosis and treatment of a blood cancer.
British Association of Dermatologists
This factsheet describes stage 4 melanoma, including what it is, investigations and treatments, and where to find out more information. It has been prepared in response to some of the questions people with melanoma often ask.
British Association of Dermatologists
This factsheet describes stage 3 melanoma, including what it is, investigations and treatments, and where to find out more information. It has been prepared in response to some of the questions people with melanoma often ask.
British Association of Dermatologists
This factsheet describes stage 2 melanoma, including what it is, investigations and treatments, and where to find out more information. It has been prepared in response to some of the questions people with melanoma often ask.
British Association of Dermatologists
This factsheet describes stage 1B melanoma, including what it is, investigations and treatments, and where to find out more information. It has been prepared in response to some of the questions people with melanoma often ask.
British Association of Dermatologists
This factsheet describes stage 1A melanoma, including what it is, investigations and treatments, and where to find out more information. It has been prepared in response to some of the questions people with melanoma often ask.
Leukaemia Care
This booklet for carers discusses the emotions that they may experience when caring for someone with a blood cancer: anxiety; stress; guilt; fear; loneliness; anger. It also looks at dealing with the practicalities of being a carer, including financial support, self employment and legal rights at work.
Marie Curie
This easy read booklet is to help people after someone dies. It tells you about feelings you might have and things that might make you feel better.
Marie Curie
This Easy Read booklet is for people living with an illness that they will probably die from. It tells them about how to keep comfortable, healthy and happy.
NHS Health Scotland
This leaflet is about the HPV vaccine for men who have sex with men to help protect against four types of HPV that can cause cancer and genital warts.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Ten tips to help line managers support an employee through the cancer journey, from diagnosis through treatment and living with cancer.
Macmillan Cancer Support
A translation of selected pages (56-59: Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) from Macmillan Cancer Support’s booklet “Planning ahead for the end of life" [MAC13616_E03_N]
Macmillan Cancer Support
A translation of selected pages (14-25, 28-34) from Macmillan Cancer Support’s booklet “Understanding breast screening” (MAC11674_E07_N).
Macmillan Cancer Support
A translation of selected pages from the Macmillan Cancer Support booklet “Understanding ductal carcinoma in situ (MAC12870_E04_N) into Italian, including what it is and surgery.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Polish translation of selected pages from the Macmillan booklet "Managing breathlessness" (MAC12918_E04_N).
Macmillan Cancer Support
R-CHOP is a combination treatment used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This factsheet describes the drugs used, how they are given and the possible side-effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Docetaxel (Taxotere®) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat many types of cancer including breast, prostate, stomach, head and neck, and non-small cell lung cancer. This factsheet describes what it is, how it is given, and possible side effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
XELOX (or CAPOX) may be used to treat advanced bowel cancer. This factsheet describes the drugs used, how they are given and some of the possible side-effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Docetaxel (Taxotere®) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat many types of cancer including breast, prostate, stomach, head and neck, and non-small cell lung cancer. This factsheet describes what it is, how it is given, and possible side effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This factsheet is about claiming benefits.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapy drug used to treat bowel, pancreatic, and stomach cancer, cancer and cancer of the oesophagus. It may be used to treat other cancers.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Docetaxel (Taxotere®) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat many types of cancer including breast, prostate, stomach, head and neck, and non-small cell lung cancer. This factsheet describes what it is, how it is given, and possible side effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
XELOX (or CAPOX) may be used to treat advanced bowel cancer. This factsheet describes the drugs used, how they are given and some of the possible side-effects.
Macmillan Cancer Support
This booklet has information for women who have ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). It describes DCIS, the risk factors and causes, symptoms, diagnosis and tests, staging and grading, and the treatment options (surgery, radiotherapy, hormonal therapies). It also covers issues such as life after treatment and feelings.
Marie Curie
This leaflet aims to help you prepare for the end of your partner, relative or friend’s life. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare yourself for their last few weeks and days.
NHS Health Scotland
This leaflet is about the HPV vaccine for men who have sex with men to help protect against four types of HPV that can cause cancer and genital warts.
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