Joining the Dots supports people aged 18 and over to live well when they have received a cancer diagnosis, are going through cancer treatment or are living beyond their diagnosis.
Joining the Dots Facilitators are also there to support immediate carers so that they are able to support the person with the cancer diagnosis.
We can help with anything from making small changes to support a healthy lifestyle, to helping people get the right benefits through Macmillan Welfare Rights.
Macmillan Joining the Dots works across County Durham to support people living with and beyond cancer by connecting them to the right services at the right time. Through a personalised, holistic approach, the service brings together health, wellbeing and community support to help individuals manage both the physical and emotional impact of cancer. This case study highlights Dolly’s experience and demonstrates how coordinated support can make a meaningful difference throughout a cancer journey – improving wellbeing, reducing isolation and helping...
Emma, a mother of two, was referred to Joining the Dots in 2024 by the Macmillan Information Centre following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. She remained strong, even as she faced a recurrence in 2024 and a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in 2025. Emma continued to receive supportive care and was surrounded by the support of her community, family and friends. Emma and her husband Dan had dreamed of their wedding day, and thanks to the support of...
We spoke to Lynne Carr earlier this year when she shared how Joining the Dots had supported her throughout her breast cancer journey. Now finished treatment Lynne attended a six week course HOPE is a course developed by Macmillan Cancer Support and Coventry University to support you after cancer treatment. Each course is run by a health and social care professional and a trained volunteer who has a personal experience of cancer. HOPE can help you: Lynne shared her views...
Lynne Carr describes her experience with Joining the Dots as like having her own personal google search that knew exactly what she was looking for. Diagnosed in October 2023 with breast cancer she said the experience felt like a blur. As a family educator who supports adult wellbeing, she understood the process of accessing services, but was blindsided by the fact that this time, it was happening to her. Lynne said: “The breast care nurses were amazing and provided me...
We recently worked with an elderly gentleman who had recently been diagnosed with cancer and who lives alone but with the support of his family. He was starting to find day to day living increasingly difficult. His main concern was his daughter who was providing most of his care, supporting him with his medication, meals and appointments. As her dad’s care needs increased, she reduced her hours at work to enable her to support him. We met with the gentleman...
A client had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was going through radiotherapy treatment when she contacted Joining the Dots for support. Joining the Dots Facilitator Sonia Reay, supported her with her finances initially, with a referral to Macmillan Welfare Rights. However, as treatment progressed, she found out that the cancer had spread and unfortunately there were no further treatment options. Her priorities had changed, and she needed Sonia to help her. Sonia supported her client to organise her Will,...
A Joining the Dots facilitator recently visit a 90-year-old gentleman with terminal facial cancer and suspected pancreatic cancer. The gentleman’s palliative care nurse had been supporting with pain management and he had been prescribed some pain medication. When we spoke to the gentleman it became apparent this medication was due to run out in a couple of days and he hasn’t had another prescription delivered by the pharmacy. As it was Friday, he was particularly concerned that he would not...
An 80 year old lady with terminal lung cancer had recently moved into supported accommodation due to her deteriorating health. Her family had been helping to get her settled but she needed further support to move furniture and with some other small jobs. She couldn’t do these herself but felt guilty asking her family to support so our facilitator provided the details of a local handyperson service who could support her with this. She is now able to access the...
Joining the Dots had been working with a gentleman receiving palliative care and whose daughter was struggling to see the change in her dad whilst receiving treatment. Our facilitator spoke to St. Teresa’s Hospice to access some support for the family and Team Solan who provided the family with days out. At Christmas time we successfully accessed funding from the Making Memories Fund which provided a special trip where the family enjoyed a carriage ride with Santa. The family were...
Joining the Dots supported a lady with a breast cancer diagnosis, who was living in temporary accommodation with her children. The temporary accommodation was out of her local area, where her family and support networks were. She was looking for some financial support as she was struggling with the cost of living. She was looking for information on grant applications and when we chatted about the kind of support she required, it was apparent that food shopping was one of...
Sue Turner spoke of the support she had received from Joining the Dots over four years. Sue is a breast cancer survivor who received her diagnoses one week after the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 first started. She also lives with Fibromyalgia, a long-term chronic condition which causes mobility issues and means she is reliant on her wheelchair. She said: “I was diagnosed with cancer at what might have been the worst possible time. Any cancer diagnosis is scary no matter...
