Macmillan Survivorship Research Group

The primary aim of the Macmillan Survivorship Research Group| is to get to the heart of cancer survivors’ experiences following primary treatment and identify, develop and test solutions to support self management of cancer related problems.

The broad aims of the research programme are to:

1. Deliver a research programme to understand restoration of health and well-being following primary treatment.
2. Identify who is most at risk of problems and what helps/hinders restoration of health and well-being.
3. Explore who is most likely to need support with self-management and what helps or hinders self-management.
4. Develop and test ways to support self-management of cancer related problems to enhance the lives of survivors.
5. Find ways to include people typically under-represented in research.
6. Identify where to target interventions and services to better support survivors.

Three streams of work have been established to achieve these aims. 

• Stream 1 - Understanding recovery and self management following primary treatment. The group is conducting a series of studies to further understand problems experienced following primary treatment.
• Stream 2 - Co-creating and testing interventions to support self-management. The group has developed and is in the process of testing an online resource to manage cancer related fatigue (RESTORE), bringing together clinical knowledge and lay expertise for people who have completed treatment. This resource will offer tailored support and has been created in partnership with survivors, Macmillan partners, clinical teams and academic experts to maximise its relevance and reach.
• Stream 3 - User involvement including those typically under-represented. The group continues to develop ways to involve people typically under-represented in research (underpinning all their research activity) particularly older people, people living in remote areas, people from black and minority ethnic groups, people with low literacy and low socio-economic status.