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Living with and beyond cancer

The impact of cancer often doesn’t end when treatment does. Everyone should be supported to live as well as possible for as long as possible after a cancer diagnosis.

The story of cancer has changed. 2.5 million people living in the UK today have had a cancer diagnosis, and around half of those diagnosed with cancer today will live for at least 10 years. This is fantastic news. But action must be taken to address the ongoing needs of the growing number of people living with and beyond cancer.

The impact of cancer often doesn’t end when treatment does. The consequences of cancer and its treatment include chronic fatigue, sexual difficulties, mental health problems, and pain. Six months after the end of their cancer treatment around 50% of people will have one or more unmet health need. Many of these problems can persist for years and even decades. Having cancer can also impact on all other aspects of people lives; including their social life and family relationships.

At Macmillan, we believe that everyone should be supported to live as well as possible, for as long as possible after a cancer diagnosis. We know that the impact of cancer can be managed if people have access to the right treatment, care and support; including a Recovery Package and tailored follow up care. We are calling for this care and support to be available to everyone with cancer, regardless of where they live.

England

Scotland

Macmillan has invested £5M in the Transforming Care After Treatment (TCAT) programme, a partnership with the Scottish Government, the three cancer networks and local authorities. This programme is funding over 25 pilot projects within the NHS and councils across Scotland. Each project is unique, but all will test new and better ways to support patients after treatment ends.

The new cancer plan commits to Macmillan’s key policy of every patient receiving an Holistic Needs Assessment and care plan – and we will be working to ensure this pledge is met to support everyone living with and beyond cancer.

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Wales/ Cymru

Macmillan believes that to achieve the best outcomes following a cancer diagnosis, person centred care must be at the heart of service delivery. Only by focusing on the whole person, can the patient’s experience during their cancer pathway be as good as it can possibly be. This is true for those who survive cancer, are living with or beyond cancer or someone who is nearing the end of life.

Person centred care remains a key aspiration within the Cancer Delivery Plan and Macmillan will work with the Welsh Government and the NHS to deliver it across Wales.

Byw gyda Chanser a Thu Hwnt

Cred Macmillan, er mwyn cyflawni’r canlyniadau gorau yn dilyn diagnosis o ganser, bod yn rhaid i ofal sydd yn canolbwyntio ar y person fod wrth wraidd darparu gwasanaeth. Dim ond trwy ganolbwyntio ar y person cyfan y gall profiad y claf ar eu llwybr trwy ganser fod cystal ag y gall fod. Mae hyn yn wir am y rheiny sy’n goroesi canser, yn byw gyda chanser neu y tu hwnt iddo neu rywun sydd yn agosáu at ddiwedd eu hoes.

Mae gofal sy'n canolbwyntio ar y person yn dal yn uchelgais allweddol yn y Cynllun Cyflenwi Canser a bydd Macmillan yn gweithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a'r GIG i'w gyflenwi ledled Cymru.

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Northern Ireland

We are delighted that the principles of Transforming Cancer Follow Up are being rolled out to help more people live well after treatment for cancer.

We continue to call on all political parties to commit to making sure the ‘Recovery Package’ is available to every patient progressing through and beyond treatment for cancer.

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