# Emotional support and helplines (UK)

Source: https://onco.cc/terms/emotional-support-cancer-uk/  
OnCo record `emotional-support-cancer-uk` (Term). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Shock, fear, anger and numbness are normal after a gallbladder cancer diagnosis; your clinical nurse specialist is the first port of call, and Macmillan, Cancer Research UK nurses, Maggie's centres, Marie Curie and AMMF offer free support to patients and families.

## Summary

Cancer Research UK's coping page says "you may feel a range of powerful emotions at first such as feeling shocked, upset", numb, frightened, confused, angry, guilty or sad, that "talking to your friends and relatives about your cancer can help and support you", and that specialist nurses are usually the first point of contact, with counsellors, support groups, social workers, GPs, district nurses and community palliative care nurses behind them. The NHS gallbladder cancer support page says "the clinical nurse specialist, or another member of your specialist team, will be able to give you information on local support services" and lists Macmillan Cancer Support (0808 808 00 00), Cancer Research UK's nurse helpline (0808 800 4040), Maggie's (0300 123 1801) and Marie Curie (0800 090 2309).

Maggie's offers "free expert care and support" in walk-in centres at major cancer hospitals, with no appointment needed, including help with money worries and support for family and friends. Marie Curie describes palliative care as "holistic care, which looks after every part of you", available "at any stage in your illness" after a terminal diagnosis. AMMF is "the UK's only cholangiocarcinoma charity" and runs patient webinars and discussion groups for biliary cancers, including gallbladder cancer. Macmillan also covers the practical side: work rights under the Equality Act, sick pay, benefits and grants. This is orientation from public patient pages, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.

## Fields

- Kind: Term
- Last checked: 2026-09-24

## Notes

- For triple-negative breast cancer the NHS lists Breast Cancer Now (0808 800 6000), Macmillan (0808 808 00 00), Cancer Research UK nurses (0808 800 4040) and Marie Curie (0800 090 2309). Breast Cancer Now's Someone Like Me service pairs you with someone who has had primary breast cancer; Cancer Research UK says the breast care nurse is the first port of call and lists counselling and support groups; Maggie's centres are free and need no referral; the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation runs a helpline and forum for this subtype.
- For pancreatic cancer the NHS lists Pancreatic Cancer UK (0808 801 0707, with a nurse service, forum and local groups), Macmillan (0808 808 00 00), Cancer Research UK nurses (0808 800 4040), Maggie's (0300 123 1801) and Marie Curie (0800 090 2309). Pancreatic Cancer UK's specialist nurses can be reached by phone, email or WhatsApp, its online community is called Circles, and it says people with this cancer are more likely to have anxiety or depression and that getting support helps.

## Sources

- Cancer Research UK: coping with gallbladder cancer: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/gallbladder-cancer/living-with/coping
- NHS: gallbladder cancer, help and support: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gallbladder-cancer/help-and-support/
- Maggie's: support and information: https://www.maggies.org/support-and-information/
- Marie Curie: what are palliative care and end of life care?: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/information/getting-care/palliative-care
- AMMF, the UK cholangiocarcinoma charity: https://ammf.org.uk/
- Macmillan: work and cancer: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/work-and-cancer
- Macmillan: money and work: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-and-work
- Macmillan grants: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-and-work/macmillan-grants
- NHS: help and support for breast cancer in women: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-in-women/help-and-support-for-breast-cancer-in-women/
- Breast Cancer Now: coping with breast cancer emotionally: https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/life-after-treatment/coping-with-breast-cancer-emotionally
- Cancer Research UK: coping with breast cancer: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/living-with/coping-support
- Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation: newly diagnosed: https://tnbcfoundation.org/living-with-tnbc/newly-diagnosed
- NHS: pancreatic cancer, help and support: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatic-cancer/help-and-support/
- Pancreatic Cancer UK: dealing with the emotional impact of pancreatic cancer: https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/dealing-with-pancreatic-cancer/dealing-with-the-emotional-impact-of-pancreatic-cancer/
- Pancreatic Cancer UK: information for families and friends: https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/support-for-you/information-for-family-members/
- Cancer Research UK: coping and support when you have pancreatic cancer: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/pancreatic-cancer/living-with/coping

## Connected records

- cancers: [Gallbladder cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gallbladder/), [Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic/), [Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)](https://onco.cc/cancers/tnbc/)
- technologies: [Cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue and distress](https://onco.cc/technologies/cbt-fatigue-distress/), [Early integrated palliative care](https://onco.cc/technologies/palliative-care/)
- terms: [Carers: what you can do and UK carer support](https://onco.cc/terms/carers-gallbladder-cancer-uk/), [Carers: what you can do and UK carer support (breast cancer)](https://onco.cc/terms/carers-breast-cancer-uk/), [Carers: what you can do and UK carer support (pancreatic cancer)](https://onco.cc/terms/carers-pancreatic-cancer-uk/), [Financial toxicity](https://onco.cc/terms/financial-toxicity/)

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