Macmillan launches biggest shake-up in cancer care for a generation
- Almost 2 million people are struggling with the impact cancer is having on their day-to-day lives – with many unable to access the support they need
- In response, Macmillan is putting more care closer to people’s doorsteps - training almost 50,000 more nurses and professionals in high streets and health hotspots
- This is in addition to the services Macmillan already offers - including its free Support Line and 24/7 Online Community
- Macmillan is urging the public to donate today and join its fair care mission to bring cancer care closer to every UK home
- The campaign is supported by celebrities with first-hand experience of cancer, including broadcaster Adele Roberts, who has lived with a stoma bag since her treatment
Almost 2 million people with cancer across the UK are struggling with the day-to-day impact of their diagnosis, with support too often out of reach.
A “hidden” cancer crisis is leaving an estimated 1.7 million people with cancer (51%) facing serious issues with everyday needs during one of the toughest times of their lives[i]. For many of those affected, support is hard to find or too far away, according to Macmillan Cancer Support. The charity is on a mission to bring care closer to every home in the UK by training thousands more nurses and other healthcare professionals.
In what Macmillan calls the biggest shake-up in cancer care for a generation, it’s launching a UK-wide ‘fair care mission’ to bring vital support into high streets and health hotspots to make it easier for people to get help where they live.
This is designed to not only improve people’s day-to-day lives, but also help ease pressure on overstretched NHS services, by enabling people to receive help earlier and in more accessible ways.
More care where you are - from Boots to barbers and banks
At the heart of the plan, Macmillan will equip almost 50,000 more professionals across the UK with its renowned cancer expertise - nearly quadrupling its current number. It will provide training to around 5,000 additional healthcare professionals in clinical settings, such as cancer nurses, alongside more than 40,000 frontline workers who regularly interact with people with cancer. This includes pharmacists such as those at Boots, physiotherapists, paramedics, dietitians, GP surgery staff and speech and language therapists. This will make it easier for people to access support closer to home.
Alongside this, the charity is working with local community groups and everyday businesses - from farmers’ and fishermen’s networks to banks, barbers and shops - to help spark conversations about cancer and connect more people to support where they already are.
Macmillan, which has been supporting people with cancer for more than 100 years, is also improving its free services and testing new ones to give people even more ways to get help, and in ways that fit their needs and busy lives.
Macmillan Cancer Support CEO, Gemma Peters, said: "We’re facing a hidden cancer crisis leaving people facing serious issues with everyday needs during one of the toughest times of their lives. Too often, people are left struggling to get the care and support they desperately need. Who you are, where you live, and how you communicate should never dictate your experience of cancer. But for too many people it still does. This isn’t fair.
"That’s why we’re on a mission to bring support closer to home. By investing in our free services, training thousands more professionals and working with local communities and businesses, we’re making sure people with cancer get the support they need on their doorsteps. But we can’t do this alone. It will take healthcare professionals, partners, local communities and the support of the public to help us make sure everyone gets the care they deserve.”
The everyday needs that people with cancer in the UK are struggling with include issues such as how they are sleeping, how they look and feel, their ability to work and managing their finances.
The charity warns that this avoidable situation is set to worsen, with an estimated one million more people likely to face the same everyday struggle over the next 20 years as the number of people living with cancer is projected to rise sharply by 58% to 5.4 million in 2045[ii].
Here, 28-year-old Sophie, from Essex, explains how cancer has turned her world upside down.
Not long ago, Sophie was a carefree woman in her early twenties, then everything changed. After months of being dismissed, she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, followed by thyroid cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy while dealing with heart complications, including a melon-sized tumour pressing on her heart, constant pleural effusion in her left lung, and a partially collapsed right lung, conditions she still lives with today. At just 23, she was forced to confront her fertility and future in ways no one her age should.
She said: "I remember playing cricket in the garden with my family and I couldn’t even run the short distance in between the stumps. I couldn't walk up and down the stairs without struggling to breathe, even lying in bed I would end up coughing and feeling short of breath. As time has gone on, my activity levels have gone, and my heart and body aren’t as strong. I’m having to navigate a 'normal' life, but no one will see me when I’m struggling to walk up the stairs, or the fatigue when I can’t get out of bed until midday, or when my meds aren’t right and they're causing more debilitating side effects, or I’m just emotionally drained with everything as well."
She added: "I was thinking, okay children are going to be hard work regardless, and I’m nine months into a new relationship with my now husband, it’s insane that I was having to think about things like that so young. Coming to terms with the possibility that my husband and I may never become parents has been incredibly difficult".
The campaign is also supported by a number of celebrities who have experienced cancer first-hand, including Adele Roberts who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and is now in remission while managing life with a stoma bag.
She said: “When people hear the words ‘cancer free’, they think that means everything goes back to normal, but the reality is, for lots of us, life changes forever. Living with a stoma has completely changed my relationship with my body and there are still daily challenges people don’t always see or understand. That’s why I talk so openly about it, because ostomies and cancer can still feel like hidden disabilities and I never want people to feel ashamed or alone.
“After treatment, I had to learn how to trust my body again. Even getting back into running felt like starting from scratch. There’s so much focus on getting through cancer treatment, but not always enough support for what comes afterwards, like rebuilding your confidence, managing the emotional impact and adjusting to a completely new normal. Having more support available in local communities and everyday spaces could make such a difference for people trying to navigate all of that.”
Alongside this, the charity is working with local community groups and everyday businesses - from farmers’ and fishermen’s networks to banks, barbers and shops - to help spark conversations about cancer and connect more people to support where they already are.
Macmillan, which has been supporting people with cancer for more than 100 years, is also improving its free services and testing new ones to give people even more ways to get help, and in ways that fit their needs and busy lives.
Macmillan Cancer Support CEO, Gemma Peters, said: "We’re facing a hidden cancer crisis leaving people facing serious issues with everyday needs during one of the toughest times of their lives. Too often, people are left struggling to get the care and support they desperately need. Who you are, where you live, and how you communicate should never dictate your experience of cancer. But for too many people it still does. This isn’t fair.
"That’s why we’re on a mission to bring support closer to home. By investing in our free services, training thousands more professionals and working with local communities and businesses, we’re making sure people with cancer get the support they need on their doorsteps. But we can’t do this alone. It will take healthcare professionals, partners, local communities and the support of the public to help us make sure everyone gets the care they deserve.”
The everyday needs that people with cancer in the UK are struggling with include issues such as how they are sleeping, how they look and feel, their ability to work and managing their finances.
The charity warns that this avoidable situation is set to worsen, with an estimated one million more people likely to face the same everyday struggle over the next 20 years as the number of people living with cancer is projected to rise sharply by 58% to 5.4 million in 2045[ii].
Here, 28-year-old Sophie, from Essex, explains how cancer has turned her world upside down.
Not long ago, Sophie was a carefree woman in her early twenties, then everything changed. After months of being dismissed, she was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, followed by thyroid cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy while dealing with heart complications, including a melon-sized tumour pressing on her heart, constant pleural effusion in her left lung, and a partially collapsed right lung, conditions she still lives with today. At just 23, she was forced to confront her fertility and future in ways no one her age should.
She said: "I remember playing cricket in the garden with my family and I couldn’t even run the short distance in between the stumps. I couldn't walk up and down the stairs without struggling to breathe, even lying in bed I would end up coughing and feeling short of breath. As time has gone on, my activity levels have gone, and my heart and body aren’t as strong. I’m having to navigate a 'normal' life, but no one will see me when I’m struggling to walk up the stairs, or the fatigue when I can’t get out of bed until midday, or when my meds aren’t right and they're causing more debilitating side effects, or I’m just emotionally drained with everything as well."
She added: "I was thinking, okay children are going to be hard work regardless, and I’m nine months into a new relationship with my now husband, it’s insane that I was having to think about things like that so young. Coming to terms with the possibility that my husband and I may never become parents has been incredibly difficult".
The campaign is also supported by a number of celebrities who have experienced cancer first-hand, including Adele Roberts who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, underwent surgery and chemotherapy, and is now in remission while managing life with a stoma bag.
She said: “When people hear the words ‘cancer free’, they think that means everything goes back to normal, but the reality is, for lots of us, life changes forever. Living with a stoma has completely changed my relationship with my body and there are still daily challenges people don’t always see or understand. That’s why I talk so openly about it, because ostomies and cancer can still feel like hidden disabilities and I never want people to feel ashamed or alone.
“After treatment, I had to learn how to trust my body again. Even getting back into running felt like starting from scratch. There’s so much focus on getting through cancer treatment, but not always enough support for what comes afterwards, like rebuilding your confidence, managing the emotional impact and adjusting to a completely new normal. Having more support available in local communities and everyday spaces could make such a difference for people trying to navigate all of that.”
Macmillan’s new Membership Offer for professionals
Until now, Macmillan’s expert-led training has largely been focused on specialist roles such as clinical nurse specialists, with more than 11,000 Macmillan Professionals across the UK.
Under the new approach, known as Macmillan Membership, this will be opened up far more widely, giving a broader range of professionals on-demand access to guidance, wellbeing support and trusted resources to help them better support people living with cancer.
The move reflects both the growing number of people living with cancer in the UK and the reality that cancer can impact every part of your life, meaning support needs to come from a wider range of professionals.
Jamie Kerruish, Chief Healthcare Officer at Boots, has welcomed the move: “Having easy access to care on the high street can make a real difference for people living with cancer. Our Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Optometrists and No7 Beauty Advisors are trusted experts in their communities, and thanks to our long partnership with Macmillan, more than 4,000 of them are trained to offer support when people need it most. We’re proud of the part we’ve played in community cancer care over the years, and we welcome this push to make this support easier to reach for more people, in more places across the UK.”
Macmillan, which relies almost entirely on public donations to provide its essential services, is urging the public to donate today and join its mission to bring fair care closer to every home around the UK.
Find out how you can join Macmillan’s fair care mission.
Under the new approach, known as Macmillan Membership, this will be opened up far more widely, giving a broader range of professionals on-demand access to guidance, wellbeing support and trusted resources to help them better support people living with cancer.
The move reflects both the growing number of people living with cancer in the UK and the reality that cancer can impact every part of your life, meaning support needs to come from a wider range of professionals.
Jamie Kerruish, Chief Healthcare Officer at Boots, has welcomed the move: “Having easy access to care on the high street can make a real difference for people living with cancer. Our Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Optometrists and No7 Beauty Advisors are trusted experts in their communities, and thanks to our long partnership with Macmillan, more than 4,000 of them are trained to offer support when people need it most. We’re proud of the part we’ve played in community cancer care over the years, and we welcome this push to make this support easier to reach for more people, in more places across the UK.”
Macmillan, which relies almost entirely on public donations to provide its essential services, is urging the public to donate today and join its mission to bring fair care closer to every home around the UK.
Find out how you can join Macmillan’s fair care mission.
About Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support has spent more than 100 years helping people living with cancer. We know that cancer can disrupt your whole life. And it can be made worse simply because of who you are and where you live. But we’re here to change that. The number of people diagnosed with cancer is growing, and every one of them needs the best support to meet their unique needs. That's why we'll do whatever it takes to help everyone living with cancer across the UK get the support they need right now and transform cancer care for everyone who will be diagnosed in the future.
About Macmillan’s Fair Cancer Care campaign
A cancer diagnosis is the biggest challenge many people will ever face, and for some it can be made even tougher.
How quickly someone is diagnosed, the care they receive, and their chances of recovery can be affected by where they live, what they earn, where they work, how they communicate or the colour of their skin. It shouldn’t be that way.
Everyone deserves the best possible cancer care. But too many people aren’t receiving it.
Through Macmillan’s Fair Cancer Care Campaign, we’re bringing together the people who know cancer best - from healthcare professionals and community groups to our partners, volunteers, supporters and our own experts - to help make cancer care better for everyone.
Together, we can make cancer care fair.
How quickly someone is diagnosed, the care they receive, and their chances of recovery can be affected by where they live, what they earn, where they work, how they communicate or the colour of their skin. It shouldn’t be that way.
Everyone deserves the best possible cancer care. But too many people aren’t receiving it.
Through Macmillan’s Fair Cancer Care Campaign, we’re bringing together the people who know cancer best - from healthcare professionals and community groups to our partners, volunteers, supporters and our own experts - to help make cancer care better for everyone.
Together, we can make cancer care fair.
About Macmillan’s Membership
Macmillan has launched a new membership for all healthcare professionals who interact with or support people living with cancer as part of their role, from community nurses and physiotherapists to speech therapists and dieticians.
All Macmillan members can access expert-led learning, trusted resources and has the opportunity to share best practice through regular newsletters, specialist forums, webinars, regional events and conferences.
The new Membership programmes provide:
Find out more at membership.macmillan.org.uk.
All Macmillan members can access expert-led learning, trusted resources and has the opportunity to share best practice through regular newsletters, specialist forums, webinars, regional events and conferences.
The new Membership programmes provide:
- On-demand e-learning and expert-led cancer training
- Trusted patient information resources
- Wellbeing support for professionals
- Opportunities to connect with peers and share experiences
Find out more at membership.macmillan.org.uk.
Celebrity Interview Time
The campaign is supported by Amy Dowden, Adele Roberts, Victoria Derbyshire and Sarah Cawood. For potential interview opportunities, please contact the Macmillan comms team. All requests are subject to availability and agreement.
References
[i] Macmillan Cancer Support/YouGov survey of 2,107 adults in the UK who have had a cancer diagnosis. Fieldwork was undertaken between 2nd Jan to 27th Jan 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of people living with cancer in the UK (aged 18+). Survey questions were as follows: Have you had any concerns about any of the following issues in the last few weeks, which were caused or have been made worse by your experience of cancer? 51% of respondents selected 4-5 on a 5-point scale for one or more issues from a specified list representing day-to-day or ‘everyday’ needs and concerns. ‘More than 1.7 million’ estimated by applying the 51% to the 3.4 million people living with cancer in the UK, sourced from: Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer prevalence. Accessed May 2026.
[ii] Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer prevalence. Accessed May 2026. Estimates produced in partnership with Scottish Widows.
[iii] As per ref 1.
[ii] Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer prevalence. Accessed May 2026. Estimates produced in partnership with Scottish Widows.
[iii] As per ref 1.
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