A free course to help cancer survivors re-build their lives is to be launched in Suffolk.

The Help to Overcome Problems Effectively(Hope) sessions will be held in Lowestoft for six weeks.

Run by the charity Macmillan Cancer Support the support course is the first of its kind for Suffolk and Norfolk.

Up to a dozen cancer survivors are expected to take part in the Hope course, which start on February 18 at an undisclosed location in Lowestoft.

Cancer survivors will be able to get practical advice on how to rebuild their lives and relationships and regain confidence.

The Hope sessions run every Friday until Friday, April 1 and they will be hosted by two cancer survivors.

The course, one of four in the east of England to be set up, will be monitored by the University of East Anglia.

The UEA is assessing the Hope scheme to see if it would be financially viable for the NHS to start running them across the region.

Staff from the UEA will prepare a report in March on the success of the Hope sessions in helping cancer survivors concentrate on the future.

Other Hope courses are being run in St Neots, Huntingdon and Luton.

Carol Holloway, Macmillan Cancer Support learning and development manager based in Cambridge, said: 'The course is run by trained facilitators who have had a cancer experience themselves so they know what people are going through.

'Hope is an excellent and practical course for the many people who have survived cancer but can feel they need some support during the next stage in their lives.'

One in three people develop cancer and there are two million people nationally who are who are suffering cancer.

Anyone interested in the Lowestoft Hope course which runs from 1.30pm to 4pm every Friday between February 18 and April 1 should email enquiries@angliacancernetwork.nhs.uk