Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support – Providing support for everyone living with and beyond cancer

A warm welcome to pop along on a Monday 10am-4pm, to have a chat or register. If you would like to come along an speak to someone Tuesday-Friday please do make an appointment so we can give you our time. We do have some workshops and small groups booked in sometimes .

Please contact 07512 279663 or 01297 816559 to arrange an appointment to register or discuss referral options.

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A single or monthly donation makes a huge difference to our clients

Hello and Welcome to
Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support

Axminster and Lyme Cancer support was set up in 2018 by Mary Kahn, following a diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in 2017. Although there was some great support available online and further afield having a network of support locally was missing.

Along with a team of volunteers who were able to give their time ALCS started supporting local people in October 2018.

Since 2018 ALCS the need for support has grown enormously, we currently have over 800 (January 2025) people who have registered for support. There are a variety of services available from creative activities, holistic therapies, relevant diet and lifestyle information, different exercise classes all for anyone affected by any cancer. We offer mutual support, helping people cope with the fear, anxiety, isolation, or stress that cancer can bring by providing a chance to unwind over a cup of tea. Clients can also book our Beach Hut in Lyme Regis to enjoy a restorative day by the sea.

For details of events coming up please see our calendar. Our drop-in sessions are informal and you can come for as long or a little as you would like anytime during the session… the kettle is always on! We are delighted to be running many of our drop-in sessions and workshops from our premises at Cross Keys House and monthly Lyme Regis Coffee Mornings at the Waffle House, Lyme Regis.

If you would like to help us we always need volunteers to meet and greet, help with fundraising, plus more so please if you are able to offer your time do get in touch.

July – Sarcoma Awareness Month
… find out more

Online Shop & Vinted Store

You can buy our cards, key-rings, CD’s and our very own recipe book.

We have special offers available like buy 10 get one free for cards and an offer of free deliver if you spend over £20.

Please click the link to browse our items. We also offer to deliver if you are in the local area just select during checkout.

Visit our shop

Visit our Vinted store

What our clients say about us

A warm and welcoming venue for people to get together and discuss all aspects of cancer . Good facilities in other areas : library and quiet room , little shop , homemade cakes served by cheerful volunteers . All in all an impressive place to be .

Beach Hut

I am so grateful to Axminster and Lyme Cancer support for the opportunities to use the beach hut. It gives me and the family a chance to forget about hospital appointments and treatment for the day. There’s nothing more therapeutic than the sound of the ocean and seeing your children enjoy every second of it!

Bereavement counselling

I just wanted to send an email to say how thankful and grateful I am for all of the therapy sessions I’ve had with XXXX thanks to ALCS. The sessions have really helped me understand my feelings and anxieties surrounding my mums passing from cancer, and helped me build strategies on how to face any future worries and feelings. Again, I’m so thankful and grateful for you letting me have all these sessions. They’ve helped me probably more than I even realise!

Boat Building Academy Workshops

What a great morning and a great (and tolerant) instructor Will was . I can’t put into words how great it feels to do something productive it was a beautiful box and felt like a real achievement.

Auricular Acupuncture

I would just like to give you some feed back about the acupuncture sessions XXX and myself have been attending, XXX has been in considerable pain for several months and been taking morphine sulphate and for break through pain oramorph x 4 during the day, since the first session his pain changed and decreased and now he doesn’t take oramorph at all , it has been miraculous ! I have been feeling tearful and anxious continuously and I most of the time feel calmer, stronger and more myself, We have found Hillary very kind, professional and knowledgeable and the group is really lovely we feel supported ! Your new premises are just beautiful ! A calm and safe place! XXX and myself can’t express our feelings of gratitude enough! It was a good day when we met you in the summer this year, you really understand what is important to us, support , kindness and empathy thank you Mary and your team,

I just needed today contact you to say Thankyou for the appointment. thank you so very much for the appointment with Janemarie I can honestly tell you that this is the first time I have felt like me in 5 months she was so lovely and did such a perfect cut on my hair I didn’t think I had enough left to do anything with and it really looks great and I can’t begin to tell you how much better I feel . What a great job you all do xx x

Facebook post feedback

“These people are angels. The support we have been given has been overwhelming. They probably don’t even realise what a difference they make to families but quite honestly some of the kindest, most caring people I have ever known.” This was recently posted on Facebook by one of the people we have been helping.

Thank you so much for my referral to Jenny Lidster. I have completed five amazing therapeutic sessions in Jenny’s welcoming and comfortable clinic room in Honiton. During the sessions I felt cocooned, safe and in good hands.

At the first session it felt like I cried for an hour while Jenny took notes. Clearly I was hanging on to more emotion than I thought! I walked out of that session feeling lighter and very hopeful.

During subsequent sessions Jenny listened to how things had been whilst taking notes, then invited me to switch off my phone, make myself comfortable and relax. I focussed on Jennys voice and listened to her instructions. I have never had hypnotherapy before so it was all new to me. Jenny talked me into a beautiful garden which I can visit at any time (useful) . I remember feeling deeply relaxed and happy to follow where Jenny’s voice took me – sometimes I felt as if I missed an instruction as I was too relaxed to respond. Like magic I awoke and felt energised but content and somehow lighter. Clearly she helped me shed some unwanted baggage.

After following sessions I feel more in control, less angry, more accepting. I have more of my old self back.

The whole experience has been hugely beneficial and I would not hesitate to recommend Jenny. It has been brilliant. I feel better equipped with coping strategies for my onward journey.

More beach hut feedback

Thank you for a lovely day in the beach hut. It was chilly but dry and we took the opportunity to have a couple of walks in addition to watching the world go by from the hut. And thank you so much for the café voucher- we had a lovely coffee and slice of cake each! Very kind gesture and much appreciated. Thank you once again for a great day.

ALCS has transformed my husbands life literally! When we first met Mary we were at our lowest point, totally unsupported and I as my husbands carer did not know how to cope, Today with the constant kindness, professionalism and access to different groups, alternative therapies ect we are in a different place! My husbands cancer is untreatable and he has ups and downs but I know without ALCS our life would be even more difficult THANK YOU!

Men’s Pie & Pint

A fantastic night , with a bunch of men going through similar difficult challenges in their life. Being able to talk about our individual experiences over a Pie and Pint is invaluable.

Referred for Support

At the first session it felt like I cried for an hour while Jenny took notes. Clearly I was hanging on to more emotion than I thought! I walked out of that session feeling lighter and very hopeful.

During subsequent sessions Jenny listened to how things had been whilst taking notes, then invited me to switch off my phone, make myself comfortable and relax. I focussed on Jenny’s voice and listened to her instructions. I have never had hypnotherapy before so it was all new to me. Jenny talked me into a beautiful garden which I can visit at any time (useful) . I remember feeling deeply relaxed and happy to follow where Jenny’s voice took me – sometimes I felt as if I missed an instruction as I was too relaxed to respond. Like magic I awoke and felt energised but content and somehow lighter. Clearly she helped me shed some unwanted baggage.

After following sessions I feel more in control, less angry, more accepting. I have more of my old self back.

The whole experience has been hugely beneficial and I would not hesitate to recommend Jenny. It has been brilliant. I feel better equipped with coping strategies for my onward journey.

Do please use any of this if you need to persuade anyone else that may need therapy.

Thank you again for all the amazing support ALCS has provided for me.

Chemo/Surgery/Radiotherapy Pack

I returned home from hospital today to be greeted with the most amazing package full of love from Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support on my doorstep, I’m absolutely bowled over to receive this wonderful gift to help me through my cancer treatment. It seems like everything has been thought about, so super generous. I can’t thank everyone enough.

Wreath Making

Thank you for my wreath making experience it was great fun and very entertaining and everyone seemed to end up with a very presentable Wreath, Full of Christmas Cheer just what everyone needs in these unsure times. Thankyou once again and a special Thankyou to our very Patient Teacher.