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Support Groups
PLANETS Support Groups and Patient Information Conferences
We understand that being diagnosed with cancer can be deeply distressing and we appreciate the isolation this can cause. We aim to replace that with a hand of friendship and support, one of PLANETS main focuses is to help patients on their cancer journey.
You may initially feel burdened with information so you should try to discuss all your queries and concerns with your doctor and other members of your healthcare team. There are numerous sources of support and information available to you. As well as all the information on the PLANETS website, you will also find other useful recommended websites listed at the bottom of our home page. PLANETS run Support Groups where patients can meet in person with a healthcare professional and other patients and form friendships and alliances as well as discuss any issues that you are experiencing. On a smaller scale, we organise ‘Coffee and Connect’ meetings which are patient led and allow you to meet informally, in small groups. This can help to ease any feelings of isolation. We also hold ‘Patient Information Days’ where patients can network and listen to presentations by medical practitioners in their specific field of expertise.
Details of these groups are posted below. Alternatively, you can e-mail us at PLANETS.
NET patients may find it useful to join the Neuroendocrine Cancer UK online groups. Pancreatic patients will also find a forum on the following link Pancreatic Cancer UK forum. Colorectal patients may find specific information in the Bowel Cancer UK online groups.
NET Patient Support Facebook Group:
Click here to request to join our group which can be found on our Facebook page.
PLANETS Charity have set up a closed NET patient support group where NET patients can discuss relevant issues, in private, with other NET patients and representatives of the charity. Please click on the link above to request to join this group and we will approve you. Posts within the group are checked by us and approved before going live for other patients to see. This is a friendly group where patients offer each other support.
Upcoming Events 2026:
Pelvic Exenteration Patient Support Group
Tuesday 15th September 2026 | 11.00am-3.30pm
The Chilworth Manor Hotel | Chilworth | Southampton | SO16 7PT
This day will be centred around survivorship, resilience and life following exenteration and will also give you the opportunity to take part in a Q&A session with a consultant. Lunch will be served at midday with coffee and tea served throughout. The schedule will be shared on our website in advance.
To secure your place at this support group, please click here.
Schedule (subject to change depending on clinical committments) is as follows:
11..10 – Welcome from PLANETS charity (Jo Green)
11.20 – REMACS Study – Charlie West
11.40 – Pre op psychological preparation and post op coping mechanisms – Dr Heloise Hunt
12.05 – iMedicare – Joe Zabaneh
12.30 – Lunch
13.30 – Maggies Cancer Support Centre – Gilly Howard-Jones
13.50 – Relaxation session
14.10 – Break
14.20 – Lymphodaema – Helen Woolley
14.50 – Stoma support – Debbie Stenning
15.15 – Q&A session
15.30 – Meeting close
UGI Patient Support Group
Monday 21st September 2026 | 10.30am-3pm
This support meeting for patients will offer the opportunity to talk to fellow patients, your CNS’s, listen to presentations on your wellbeing through cancer and take part in a Q&A session with a consultant. Lunch will be served at midday with coffee and tea served throughout.
The Oak Suite | Holiday Inn Eastleigh | Leigh Road | Eastleigh | Hampshire | SO50 9PG
To secure your place at this support group, please click here.
Schedule (subject to change depending on clinical committments) is as follows:
10:45 – Welcome from PLANETS Charity
11:00 – Benefits advice from Maggie’s Southampton – Eleanor Spink
11:30 – Wessex Cancer Trust – Phil Warner
12:00 – Lunch
13:00 – UGI Dietitians – Maureen Gale & Jess Stanton
13:30 – UGI Oncology – Dr Luke Hill
14:00 – Break
14:15 – Q&A – Professor Tim Underwood
15:00 – Meeting close
Past Events:
Colorectal Patient Support Group – Tuesday 20th January
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
NET Patient Conference – Friday 10th October
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
What are NETS – Dr Judith Cave
NETS and Diet – Fibre – NET Dietitian Ruth Lee
Support Services in the Community – Emma Rose
UGI Patient Support Group – Monday 7th July
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
Maureen Gale - UGI Specialist Dietitian
Gilly Howard-Jones – Maggie’s Southampton Cancer Support Centre
Pelvic Exenteration Patient Support Group – Tuesday 10th June
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
Exercise Prehabilitation – Dr James Otto
Pre and Post Operative Diet – Sara Akhtar and Jilla King
NET Patient Group – 22nd April 2025
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
Self Hypnosis and Control Room – Gavin Blackman
NET Patient Group – 25th April 2025
NETs and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) – Ruth Lee
NET Patient Conference – 8th November 2024
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
Diet and NETS – Portia Rees-Jones
Upper GI Patient Support Group – 15th January
Slides from the presentations are available to view or download here:
NET Patient Conference – Friday 13th October 2023
Presentation slides from the day:
ruth-lee-net-cancer-and-dietary-issues
dr-emma-williams-lifestyle-medicine
NET Patient Conference – Friday November 18th 2022
Online NET Patient Conference 2021:
The 2020 webinar can also be viewed here:
Colorectal Patient Support Group – Tuesday October 11th 2022
Gastrointestinal Late Effects of Cancer Treatment – Hannah Storrar
How is the money raised spent?
PLANETS Receive £10,000 Grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund
Thank you to John Greenwood, Trustee of the The Hospital Saturday Fund, for visiting us on Monday and bringing this incredible grant of £10,000 to support our IORT (Intra Operative Radiotherapy) machine. This will enable us to continue delivering this lifesaving treatment at University Hospital Southampton – the only centre in the UK currently offering this unique targeted form of …
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