The cancer psychology service offers support to help people cope with the emotional effects of cancer. We provide support to adults aged 16 and over who are living with cancer and having treatment at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
We offer short-term support for patients who meet our referral criteria. These criteria include where you live, your needs, and your personal situation. We review them often so we can help as many people as we can.
Living with cancer can be very hard, it can affect how we feel about ourselves, our body or our roles and relationships. Our team of psychologists are here to support you and help you manage emotional difficulties that may arise during your cancer journey.
What can we help you with?
We support people with a wide range of difficulties, including:
- living with worries.
- coping with how cancer affects your relationships
- talking to children about cancer
- feelings of low mood, anxiety, anger, sadness, or feeling overwhelmed
- managing big life changes with cancer
- feeling unhappy about your body or the way you look
- coping with pain, tiredness, or side effects of treatment
- coping with changes to sexual relationships
- changes to self-confidence or who you are
- thinking about end-of-life concerns
- making difficult decisions
- managing mental health problems with cancer
How psychological support can help
Psychological support gives you a confidential space to talk about your thoughts and feelings. You can talk about things that may sometimes feel hard to share with others.
It can help you cope with worries about cancer. It can also help you understand changes in how you feel.
Being referred and what to expect
If you would like to get help from the cancer psychology service, please speak to a member of your healthcare team.
Ask your clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or consultant team if you would like to be referred to a psychologist. They will ask you some questions about how you are.
Once you have been referred, you will be given a phone appointment with a psychologist. This phone call helps us know what help you need and gives you a chance to ask questions.
During the phone call, you will be asked about your diagnosis and how it affects you. You will also talk about your emotional well-being, mental health, and home life. The call is usually 30 minutes.
After this, you and the psychologist will agree on a plan. This may include more support from the service, a different service, or no support at this time.
If we both agree that more support would help, you will be offered one-to-one sessions with a psychologist. These sessions are usually 50 minutes. Appointments can be offered by telephone, video call or in person at one of our hospital sites.
I need urgent help
If you are having thoughts about harming yourself or others, please call 111 and select option two.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department (A&E).
Your GP is often a helpful first point of contact. Samaritans and SANEline provide out of hours support.
Please ask for help if you need it. Everyone deserves support.
Last reviewed: 26 January 2026