Some national charities, such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancerbackup and Cancer Research UK, run telephone helplines staffed by health professionals, including experienced cancer nurses.

They will be able to answer many of your questions, and may be able to give you leaflets and booklets, or refer you to other sources of advice.

Remember that telephone helplines can get busy. If you can't get through, try again at a different time of day. It's also a good idea to make a few notes about your query before you phone, so that you can be sure to cover all the things you want to know.

Some charities cover just one cancer or group of cancers. Examples are Leukaemia Research Fund, the Lymphoma Association and Breast Cancer Care.

These too will be able to give you information. Many of them run phone helplines and produce a wide range of leaflets and booklets, often on quite specific topics. Some even have panels of experts who can answer more difficult queries. Many organisations have their own websites with information on cancer and related subjects, as well as details of the latest research going on in their area of interest.

National and local organisations may also be able to put you in touch with other people who have, or have had, your type of cancer. Other patients can give you friendship and support, and may be able to recommend sources of information that they themselves found useful when they needed to find out about their illness.