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We rely on our supporters for 99% of our income. Without you we couldn't provide any of our services for people living with cancer.

We are a source of support, helping with all the things people affected by cancer want and need, and a force for change, pushing for better cancer care.

Why we exist

There are three times as many people in Britain living with cancer than there were 30 years ago. In fact over a million people have had a cancer diagnosis, and one in three of us will be diagnosed at some point in our lives.

With improvements in screening, diagnosis and treatment, more and more people are being diagnosed earlier and living with cancer for longer. They're often spending less time in hospital and more time at home. Cancer is becoming a part of more and more people's daily lives.

When you have cancer, it has an impact on every aspect of your life - from your emotions to your finances. And as you learn to cope with the shock and distress of diagnosis and the changes cancer can bring, you need a range of support - and so do their family and friends. That's where Macmillan comes in.

People affected by cancer have told us they need help living their lives, today. The concerns people have are not just medical, they're practical, emotional and financial. How will I get to my hospital appointment? Who will walk the dog? How will I pay the bills when I have to take time off work? Who will listen and understand? Who will help improve the situation - for me and others like me?

We are here to help with all these things. We are Macmillan Cancer Support.

'When I first found out I had cancer I felt like I was in a head-on crash. No-one wants a journey like cancer. But when I was at my most fearful, lonely and frightened, I somehow found the strength, because I had my family and people like Macmillan to help get me through.' Audrey Brown, London

Talk to us

Macmillan CancerLine
Freephone 0808 808 2020
Textphone 0808 808 0121
Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm
Email: cancerline@macmillan.org.uk

Our history

In 1911, a young man named Douglas Macmillan watched his father die of cancer. His father's pain and suffering moved Douglas so much, he founded the 'Society for the Prevention and Relief of Cancer'.

Douglas wanted advice and information to be provided to all people with cancer, homes for patients at low or no cost, and voluntary nurses to attend to patients in their own homes.

Today much of Douglas' legacy lives on. We are still a source of support for people living with cancer today and we are a force for improving cancer care.


Specialist healthcare

Macmillan health, social care and information professionals are leaders in their field, and our cancer care centres are designed according to what people with cancer want and need.

Many cancer patients have to see a wide range of health and social care professionals - both in their community and in hospital. To help make this process as smooth as possible, we help develop teams that provide more integrated care, including everyone from Macmillan nurses, consultants, physiotherapists and radiographers, to dietitians, social workers and speech therapists.
We are specialists

We have now funded a total of 3,942 Macmillan health and social care professionals across the UK. All our professionals are specialists in their area of cancer care and leaders in their field. They use their expert knowledge to help people understand more about cancer, manage their symptoms and side effects, and find practical ways to live with their illness. All our professionals receive education and support so they can stay at the leading edge of their specialism, and share their skills and expertise with colleagues

Ways we can help

We are here to help you find the support that's right for you - whether you have cancer yourself or are close to someone diagnosed. We can talk through your concerns over the phone on our CancerLine, provide useful Macmillan publications or point you in the direction of other helpful organisations.


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