The National Cancer Plan must deliver for the communities who have been left behind
News
Published:
30 January 2026
Fishing communities in places like North Shields face some of the starkest cancer inequalities in the country. The National Cancer Plan for England must prioritise overlooked communities to ensure everyone, gets the best possible care, wherever they live.
Ending the cancer postcode lottery can’t wait
If you want to see why ending the cancer postcode lottery can’t wait, don’t look to Westminster. Look to the working quay in North Shields.
Earlier this month, Macmillan Cancer Support stood alongside fishermen who will face a higher risk of cancer simply because of where they live and work. This is just one example of Britain’s cancer divide, and it must be closed.
Communities like these are exactly why the government’s commitment to end the cancer lottery matters. And why the imminent National Cancer Plan for England must deliver meaningful change for people who have too often been left behind.
Communities like these are exactly why the government’s commitment to end the cancer lottery matters. And why the imminent National Cancer Plan for England must deliver meaningful change for people who have too often been left behind.
Fishing communities can face stark cancer inequalities. Outdoor workers have increased exposure to the sun, which can increase the risks of skin cancers. They may also be exposed to chemicals with carcinogenic properties while at sea.
Working together to ensure people get the support they need
In north-east England, manual workers are also more likely to smoke than those in other occupations. Fishing communities are often in areas of higher deprivation. Official statistics show that average cancer survival rates are lower and death rates are higher in the most deprived areas of the UK.At Macmillan, we see the impact of these inequalities every day. When cancer is diagnosed later, treatment options can be more limited and outcomes may be worse.
People can feel isolated not only by their diagnosis, but by geography: far from hospitals, support services and even others who share their experience.
That’s why changes to cancer policy must be matched by action in communities. In North Shields, Macmillan is working with partners such as The Fishermen’s Mission C-Aware project to reduce cancer stigma and help people access support that works for them.
Bringing cancer awareness into trusted local spaces
Rather than expecting people to navigate complex systems or travel long distances, the project brings cancer awareness into trusted local spaces, led by people who understand the realities of life at sea.Through trained Cancer Community Champions - including active, former and retired fishermen and their families - we aim to reduce cancer stigma, improve awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, and encourage earlier engagement with screening and health services.
These conversations don’t happen in clinics; they happen on quaysides, in harbours and where trust already exists.
One of those champions is Paul Watson, a North Shields fishmonger who has been through cancer himself and is now in remission. Paul uses his own experience to talk openly about skin cancer and sun safety.
These conversations are already making a difference. One fisherman was diagnosed early, while another was given the all-clear after a mole check.
This is what early detection looks like in practice.
Prioritising communities who have faced the worst outcomes
The Government’s commitment to end the cancer postcode lottery, including investment in cancer specialists, new national standards and fairer rollout of diagnostic technologies, is a welcome step.But it will only succeed if it recognises that inequity is about access, trust and whether people feel able to seek help at all.
The National Cancer Plan for England is an important opportunity to change outcomes. To succeed, it must prioritise communities who have historically faced the worst outcomes.
That means investing not only in hospitals and technology, but in partnerships with communities and the voluntary sector.
Building a fairer cancer system for all
Cancer care isn’t fair right now.
Calling it a “postcode lottery” suggests it’s down to luck, but it isn’t.
The care people receive depends all too often on who they are, where they live, and whether the system has ever truly served their community.
With the right focus, proper sustainable investment, and partnership with communities that have been overlooked for too long, we can change the story.
If the National Cancer Plan for England delivers on its promises, we can start to close these gaps and build a future where everyone, wherever they live, has the same chance to get the best care.
Read more
-
News and stories 16 Jul 2026Macmillan Cancer Support has launched a dedicated app library with independently assessed digital health tools to support people throughout their cancer experience.
-
News and stories 08 Apr 2026By working with Emmerdale, we were able to bring the realities of prostate cancer into living rooms across the nation.
-
News and stories 26 Aug 2026Improving cancer care isn’t always about creating new services. Macmillan Q Lab will get the right people in the room to jointly reimagine cancer care.
