Cancer doesn’t stop for Christmas
Christmas is a time for noise, laughter and being with the people we love.
But when cancer is part of family life, Christmas can also be overshadowed by uncertainty and worry.
For Paul, who has faced seven separate cancer diagnoses since Boxing Day 2018, every Christmas with his wife, children and grandchildren feels precious.
“I always describe Christmas with my family in one word: magical. But alongside that magic, there is always one thought at the back of my mind: ‘Could this be my last one?’” ~ Paul
This Christmas, will you make a gift to help more people living with cancer and their families find the support they need?
Watch Paul, Tom and Sam’s stories
Paul's story
It was Boxing Day 2018. I was having a jolly good time with my family when I went to the toilet and discovered blood in my urine. It was frightening, and I knew something was wrong.
My brother told me I had better get it checked out. I did, and that was when the rollercoaster began.
After my first major operation, someone told me about Penny Brohn Cancer Care UK. I had already been through so much physically, but I was not prepared for the emotional impact of cancer.
I knew I needed to find someone I could talk to, and that is where Penny Brohn Cancer Care UK came in. Penny Brohn Cancer Care UK has become my oasis.
Tom and Sam's story
“The NHS tried to give Mum more time, but Penny Brohn really improved the quality of the time she had left.”
Tom and Sam’s mum, Bobbi, died in December 2014 following a secondary breast cancer diagnosis.
In 2025, to mark the tenth anniversary of her death, the brothers ran the London Marathon for Penny Brohn Cancer Care UK.
“Penny Brohn supported Mum throughout her illness and made a lasting difference to our whole family.
The support had such a positive impact on her quality of life that she asked for donations to the charity at her funeral. Running the marathon felt like an opportunity to give something back.”
Your support makes our work possible
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Penny Brohn Cancer Care UK has provided free support to thousands of people living with cancer and their families during 2026.
£35
could cover the cost of a Personal Planning appointment
£50
sponsors someone’s place on a 4-week Treatment Support Programme
£120
sponsors 10 people to attend an Eating Well with Cancer session
£200
sponsors someone’s place on our Preparing for Treatment programme.
Christmas can feel uncertain when cancer is part of family life. But with the right support, it can still contain warmth, connection and moments of pure joy.
With your help, Penny Brohn Cancer Care UK can be there for more people like Paul, and more families like Tom and Sam’s.
Give the gift of more memories that matter this Christmas.