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Support Groups
This page was last modified on 23 May 2009 at15:28
Support groups come in all different shapes and sizes. 
Wiktionary describes a support group as "A group of nonprofessional people who support each other over a problem which all members share".
Below are some of the groups we have come across over the last few years that you might find helpful. We realise that not all groups are right for all people so we have included both face to face and online groups to give you more options.
If you know of a helpful group not listed below please contact us and we'll check it out before adding it to our list.
UK Online Support Groups - List of online support groups for patients, families and carers in the UK:
| GROUP NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
Website Address / Contact Details |
| BT Buddies Forum | Our online forum is a great place to discuss, ask questions, find support and share your experiences of living with a  Brain Tumour. |
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BTUK
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BTUK is a self-help news and discussion group for patients, carers and others affected by a brain tumour.
No more than 5 messages should be posted by one person per day. All messages that do not contain brain tumour related content must have the words "OFF TOPIC" in the subject line of each message.
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http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/btuk/ |
UK Support Groups - List of support groups for patients and carers around the UK:
| NAME / LOCATION |
DESCRIPTION |
Contact Details |
AberdeenCLAN House, Aberdeen |
Monthly 1st Thursday at 1.30pm |
Run by Margaret Ritchie of Brain Tumour Action CLAN House - 01224 647 000 email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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BelfastSamuel Irwin Lecture Theatre, Level 1, |
Monthly 2nd Wednesday of each month, except Jul, Aug, Dec. 7.30pm-9.30pm |
Run by Brainwaves - 0289 337 2505 Key co-ordinator: Kate Ferguson |
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Birmingham The Health Exchange Meeting Room, Fifth Floor, Birmingham Central Library |
Monthly Third Friday of every month. 10am - 12 noon |
Contact Ann Atkins - 0121 745 3812 or 0781 8417601 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Or Contact Sue Watson Jones - 0121 608 2741 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
BristolSt Peter’s Hospice, |
Monthly 3rd Thursday of each month 7.30pm to 9.00pm Group doesn't meet in August. |
Run by Hammer Out, contact Anne Coles - 0845 450 1039 email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Or Toni Lawton, Neuro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist - 01179 753723 |
Cambridge Regional Brain Tumour Support GroupThe Mary Wallace Centre, |
For brain tumour patients and carers. Meets last Tues of each month. Close to Addenbrooke’s Hospital |
Run by Ella Pybus, Brain Tumour UK Trustee.
Telephone Ella on 01787 374 084 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.braintumourukeast.co.uk |
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Cheltenham Sue Ryder Hospice Church Road, Leckhamptom, Cheltenham |
Monthly Meets fourth Thursday every month (except August) 7.30pm - 9pm |
Run by Hammer Out, contact Anne Coles - 0845 450 1039 email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Or Toni Lawton, Neuro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist - 01179 753723 |
|
Cork Cork University Hospital |
Monthly |
Contact Avril O'Sullivan - Patient support services administrator, Irish Telephone: +353 1 2310533 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.cancer.ie |
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Coventry Social Club, Walsgrave Hospital,Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry |
Monthly, open to all patients diagnosed with a brain tumour, and families, friends. |
Ian Edwards 02476 965 326 |
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Brain Tumour Support Group for Cumbria
Harraby Community Centre
67 Ridley Road,
Cotehill,
Carlisle, CA2 4LD
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For patients, carers and families affected by brain tumours; meetings held monthly. |
Wendy Bell: 01228 514855 |
| Doncaster | Meet every third Wednesday in the month | Run by Brain Tumour UK supporter, Gail Swindell. Contact Brain Tumour UK on 0845 450 0386 for more info. |
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Dublin St Lukes Hospital, Dublin
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Monthly on 2nd Wednesday at 7.30pm |
Contact Avril O'Sullivan - Patient support services administrator, Irish Cancer Society Telephone: +353 1 2310533 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.cancer.ie |
EdinburghMaggie’s Centre Western General Hospital |
Monthly 1st Tuesday at 7pm No meetings in Jan or Jul |
Alice MacGregor 0131 334 3609 |
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Exeter
|
The group is open to anyone who has been affected by a brain tumour, whether you are a patient, a family member, a friend or a Monthly meetings are on 1st Friday of the month (except August) 2.00pm - 3.30pm
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Further details are available from:
Anne Coles from Hammerout: 0845 450 1039
Robert Oliver: 01392 406151
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Fife Maggie's Centre, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy |
First Tuesday of the month 7-9pm | Contact - 01592 647997 |
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Galway University Hospital Galway |
Contact Avril O'Sullivan - Patient support services administrator, Irish Cancer Society Telephone: +353 1 2310533 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.cancer.ie |
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GlasgowThe PRTC West Glasgow Carers Centre, Anniesland Cross, 1561 Great Western Road. Glasgow |
Monthly 2nd Monday from 7pm to 9pm |
Sheena Muir 0141 942 4475 |
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Gloucestershire The Day Unit
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The group is open to anyone who has been affected by a brain tumour, Meetings held on the fourth Thursday of each month
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Further details are available from the Hammer Out Office |
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Guildford The Fountain Centre, St Lukes Centre, Royal Surrey Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford GU2 7XX |
Monthly Second Tuesday from 12 noon to 3pm |
Contact Anne Wittle - 01252 834784 |
Haywards Heath, Sussex |
Monthly Last Thursday from 7pm to 830pm |
Mike Brookes (coordinator): 01403 263719 evenings after 7pm |
| Hertfordshire | Kathy Stakounis, a Brain Tumour UK supporter, is running a group in Hertfordshire. | Contact Kathy on 01442 871 012 |
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Leeds Central Leeds location |
Patient & Carer Brain Tumour Support Group Monthly, first Tuesday in the month 6.30 to 8.30 |
Contact Carol Robertson 01943 870770 for more details |
|
Leicester Brainwaves
Helen Webb House
35 Westleigh Road
Leicester
LE3 0HH
|
Monthly, 1st Thursday from 2pm - 4pm |
Coping with cancer 01162 230055 Or Audrey Hopwood 07534 227963 |
Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales
The Neurosupport Centre, |
Held at the NeuroSupport Centre in Liverpool. Dates vary, usually held quarterly, times between 7pm to 9pm Run by Tony Murphy who works in partnership with Maureen Kelly, the manager of the NeuroSupport Centre |
Contact: Tony Murphy, Patient Advice and Liaison Officer Tel: 0151 529 6100 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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LondonSt Thomas Hospital, |
Monthly
First Monday 1.30pm – 3 pm
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London
London Friend
86 Caledonian Road
LONDON
N1 9DN
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Monthly
First Monday of the month 7pm to 9pm.
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GMAC: offering emotional support and information for gay/bisexual men affected by cancer.
Run by Jose Veiga, Chair, London Friend, a charity supporting the LGBT community
020 7833 1674
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MiddlesboroughDepartment of Neurosciences,
The James Cook University Hospital,
Marton Road,
Middlesborough, North Yorkshire,
TS4 3BW
|
1st Tues each month 6pm to 7.30pm |
Run by Brain Tumour Action Gill Hendry, 01642 854 347 |
NorwichThe Big C Cancer Centre (entrance of Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital) |
First Wed each month from 2pm to 4pm |
Run by Brain Tumour UK. Telephone Ella Pybus on 01787 374 084 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.braintumourukeast.co.uk |
Oxford5 Abingdon Road Didcot, OX11 9BI |
For children with a brain or spinal tumour and their families |
Run by Oscar 01235 816310 |
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Shrewsbury Radbrook Community Centre, Bank Farm Road, Radbrook Green, Shrewsbury |
Self Help Group for patients, relatives & carers, providing hope and inspiration to local people who are touched by Brain Tumours. Meetings are held 2nd Friday each month at 1 pm. |
Contact Roderick Marsden on 0845 219 8107 |
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Southampton
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The group is open to anyone who has been affected by a brain tumour, whether you are a patient, a family member, a friend or a carer.
Monthly meetings are on 2nd Wednesday of the month (except August) 2.00pm - 3.30pm
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Further details are available from:
Anne Coles from Hammerout: 0845 450 1039
The Macmillan Centre Manager: 02380 796503
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Sutton, SurreyRoyal Marsden NHS Trust Carers’ group: OPD waiting area
Patients’ group: Richard Wells Rehab Centre |
Monthly on 3rd Thursday from 7.30pm to 9pm. Two support groups: one for carers and one for those diagnosed with a brain tumour |
For the patients’ group, contact Helen White on 020 8661 3038 |
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Tamworth Colton Centre Comberford Road, Tamworth, B79 9AA |
Monthly First Monday of every month from 11am to 1pm The meetings will be confidential and parents can share their stories, talk and listen to each other and support one another. |
Poppy Fields Special Mummies and Daddies. Call Lisa Guilder on 07830 302622 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Worcestershire Brain Tumour Support Group St Richard's Hospice Foundation, Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2LG For directions visit - www.wbtsg.org |
Meetings alternate between structured sessions held the first Friday of the month at 10.30 – 12.30 at St. Richards, Worcester and social events held in the evening or at weekends of the following month. Details of dates and times can be found on the Events Page. |
TELEPHONE:
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Worldwide Online Support Groups - List of groups from around the world that UK patients, families and caregivers may find useful:
| GROUP NAME |
DESCRIPTION |
Website Address / Contact Details |
| Brain - Temozolomide Group |
This group was started in 1999 for patients / caregivers / doctors interested in the drug Temozolomide for brain tumours. The group is now used to discuss many different medical issues associated with dealing with brain tumours, including Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), anaplastic astrocytomas (AA), oligodendroglioma and others. This group is run by the Musella Foundation. |
CLICK HERE to visit the group |
| Brain Tumour Community Group | A place for people who are joined by the common thread of having a brain tumour, or caring for a person with a brain tumour, can share discussions of just about anything that is NOT medically related! THIS IS AN ADULTS ONLY GROUP. Run by the Musella Foundation. |
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| Spinal GBM Group | This list is for doctors, patients, caregivers, friend and anyone else interested in a special type of tumour called a spinal glioblastoma multiforme (GBM | |
| Brain Tumour Virtual Trial Group | For people who are participating in our brain tumour virtual trial. Run by the Musella Foundation | |
| Ruta 6 |
This is a support group for those who are interested in, or currently using The Banerji Protocol (PDF file) for the treatment of brain tumours. Please join to learn general information about the treatment and feel free to share your personal stories. The Musella Foundation is currently running a virtual trial using this protocol. To participate, join the brain tumour virtual trial. |
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| Brain Surgery Group | The purpose of this group is to educate patients, families and medical professionals and to improve the quality of medical care/follow-up and increase knowledge and awareness. | |
| Paediatric Brain Tumours | This list is for the discussion of all paediatric brain tumours, primarily by parents and immediate family. However, all medical professionals both involved in the diagnosis and treatment are welcome. We deal with the tough stuff head on. We laugh, we cry, we argue and vent together as we search for answers. For the protection of members, short bio (a little bit about you and your interest in the group) will be requested after submitting your membership request and before we provide full access. |