Your nurses may change throughout your cancer journey, to provide the best skills at each stage to meet your needs. Your doctor or district nurse will be able to advise you on what sort of nursing care is most appropriate for you.
Community nurses
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provide nursing care and practical advice to patients in the home
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usually based in local clinics, in the community
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types of nursing covered include Health Visitors, District Nurses, Practice Nurses and Community Psychiatric Nurses
Marie Curie nurses
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specialist cancer nurses who provide practical nursing care in the home, usually for people with advanced cancer
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can give care day or night
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there are also hospices staffed by Marie Curie nurses
Palliative care nurses
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specialists in providing care for people whose illness is no longer curable, to improve their quality of life
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services may include family support and bereavement support
How to find other types of nurse
Marie Curie nurses
Tel: 0800 716 146
Email: nursingservices@mariecurie.org.uk
Website: www.mariecurie.org.uk
Marie Curie nurses are community cancer nurses providing hands on, around the clock nursing care. They are primarily aimed at late-stage cancer patients who want to stay at home rather than go into a hospital or hospice. Marie Curie nurses provide care free of charge.
For more information go to www.mariecurie.org.uk then to 'For Healthcare Professionals' then to the link 'Accessing the services'.
Referrals
You can be referred to a Marie Curie nurse by a district nurse or your GP.
Community nurses
Community nurses travel around their local area giving care to people in their own homes. They can help with pain and symptom control, give medication, and provide advice on issues to do with daily life, such as diet. Community nurses also provide emotional and practical support for families and carers.
Referrals
Your GP can refer you to the community nursing team, who will work with your other health professionals to devise a care plan.
If you have any questions about cancer types, treatments or what to expect
Call our cancer information nurse specialists on freephone 0808 800 1234 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 8.00pm). They can help you with up-to-date information on diagnosis, symptoms, treatments, clinical trials and more.
Interpreters are available in over 200 languages. You can also use RNID typetalk on text-phone 18001 0808 800 1234.
You can also email your questions on our Cancerbackup website.