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Living with or beyond cancer

There are 2 million people living with or beyond cancer in the UK.

This number is rising by 3% each year.

Jen. 44, diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004

Hear other people's stories

Though it's a cause for celebration that more people than ever are surviving after a diagnosis of cancer, Macmillan knows that the impact of a cancer diagnosis does not suddenly stop when treatment is over.

survivorship father

People who have finished treatment tell us they often have difficulties emotionally, practically and medically. Macmillan believes far more can to be done to improve the lives of cancer survivors. We believe that support for people living with or beyond cancer should not finish after treatment.

Macmillan organised a user's workshop before the Survivorship Initiative was launched, to make sure we had listened properly to the views of people affected by cancer. We found that people living with or beyond cancer wanted rapid access to services, choice and flexibility when accessing care, good quality information and new ways of accessing follow-up, including over the telephone, by referring themselves and in a group.

You can read a summary of the workshop here [PDF, 116kb] 

Find out more about the two million people living with or beyond cancer in the UK

 
 

What problems does a cancer survivor face?

People who have finished treatment tell us they have difficulties returning to normal life. They may:

  • struggle emotionally experience fatigue
  • need to adjust to changes treatment has made to their body
  • have to cope with short-term and long-term side effects of treatment
  • experience effects as a result of cancer treatment some time later
  • have to live with the knowledge that their cancer cannot be cured, even though they feel healthy
  • have difficulties returning to work

Macmillan believes that people living with or beyond cancer, and their carers, should have easy access to high quality care, treatment and support. Find out what services Macmillan offers to people living with or beyond cancer, and how we are working with the UK governments to support people living with or beyond cancer.

 
 
 
 

Who is a cancer survivor?

A cancer survivor is someone who is living with or beyond cancer. This means someone who:

  • has completed initial cancer management and has no apparent evidence of active disease
  • is living with progressive disease and may be receiving cancer treatment, but is not in the terminal phases of illness
  • has had cancer in the past
 
 
 
 

How can I get involved?