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Stop cancer becoming the forgotten C

Stop cancer becoming the Forgotten 'C'

At Macmillan, we speak to people living with cancer every day. We’ve heard loud and clear that now is the most worrying time in recent history to get a cancer diagnosis or start treatment.

Coronavirus has caused a devastating backlog in cancer treatment and care. We’re campaigning for Government accountability and action to reduce it.

With you alongside us, we’ll make sure cancer isn’t forgotten during or after this pandemic.

When coronavirus hit, thousands of vital cancer treatments, appointments and care were postponed or cancelled. Now, the consequences of this disruption to cancer services are impossible to ignore. People still aren’t able to get the timely support they need, and the emotional impact of the outbreak is continuing to take its toll on people already struggling.

Cancer cannot become the forgotten 'C' during this pandemic. We need to see national and local action to deliver on cancer recovery plans, clear the backlog and get cancer services back on track.

We want to see urgent action including:

Measures to tackle the diagnosis, treatment and care backlog (particularly among those with the greatest need), with published recovery plans and measures of success.
Reaffirmed commitments from UK Governments ensuring that restored cancer services – including new approaches – will be based on a personalised approach to care.
Prioritised investment in the cancer workforce and wider NHS infrastructure to cope with delivering personalised Covid-secure cancer services; and progress with comprehensive, funded plans for the healthcare workforce to meet current and projected demand.

Take action in your nation

England

We want the Government to publish a plan showing how cancer treatment will return as soon as possible. We need urgent action and commitments to:

address the backlog in cancer diagnosis, treatment and care
guarantee the NHS will have the resources it needs to meet increased demand in the coming months
make sure every person diagnosed with cancer has the fully personalised care they need.

We know that there are millions of people living with cancer who still need the right care, treatment and support right now. We’ve created this guide to help you to take action if you think you are not receiving the right care.

Take action

Sign up as a campaigner to help us make sure cancer doesn’t become the forgotten ‘C’.
You can also post a message on our Wall of Support below to let people living with cancer know that they are not alone.

People living with cancer in my area and my community already had some of the worst outcomes for cancer in the country. This is only going to get worse because of the disruptions of coronavirus. Many of us are scared. I am not only someone who has had cancer, I am also a carer and I am also Disabled. We need to be seen as whole people.

S, England

Write on the Wall of Support Close

Northern Ireland

We urgently await the publication of the Assembly’s rebuilding plan for cancer services. We know that:

patient treatment continues to be affected by COVID-19
without immediate action, cancer services will feel the impact of COVID-19 long into the future.

We know that there are many people living with cancer in Northern Ireland who still need the right care, treatment and support right now. We’ve created this guide to help you to take action if you think you are not receiving the right care.

Take action

Sign up as a campaigner to help us make sure cancer doesn’t become the forgotten ‘C’.
You can also post a message on our Wall of Support below to let people living with cancer know that they are not alone.

Write on the Wall of Support Close

Scotland

In the middle of August, the Scottish Government outlined that it would publish a cancer recovery plan for 2020-2023 in Autumn 2020. We want to see it turned into action on:

a reduction in the size of the current cancer diagnosis, treatment and care backlog.
a personalised approach to care for every cancer patient, supporting their emotional, financial and physical, as well as clinical, needs.
all cancer screening programmes returned but with a greater emphasis on tackling inequalities.

We know that there are many people living with cancer in Scotland who still need the right care, treatment and support right now. We’ve created this guide to help you to take action if you think you are not receiving the right care.

Take action

Sign up as a campaigner to help us make sure cancer doesn’t become the forgotten ‘C’.
You can also post a message on our Wall of Support below to let people living with cancer know that they are not alone.

I have a stage 4 diagnosis and have scans every six months to check for disease progression. Was due to have one this week which has been cancelled. Feeling very anxious about this as now no way to check if drug still working. Also very difficult having all plans to see family and friends cancelled when you don’t know how long you have left.

P, Scotland

Write on the Wall of Support Close

Wales

We know many people had their cancer diagnosis and treatment interrupted due to the pandemic. While many services have returned to new ways of working, there is still a backlog of people awaiting treatment and diagnosis in parts of Wales. We also know many people might still feel worried about coming forward with signs and symptoms of cancer, creating additional problems later down the line.

We want the Welsh Government to take positive action by:

Guaranteeing personalised care as a priority in the recovery, ensuring people with cancer are fully supported with their physical, practical and emotional needs.
Funding a sustained public awareness campaign to encourage people to speak with their GP should they be concerned about signs and symptoms of cancer
Publishing the ‘Framework for the Reinstatement of Cancer Services in Wales during COVID-19’ document
Prioritising the next phase of the Welsh Cancer Delivery Plan and working with Macmillan to create a positive vision for the next generation of cancer care.

We know that there are many people living with cancer in Wales who still need the right care, treatment and support right now. We’ve created this guide to help you to take action if you think you are not receiving the right care.

Take action

Sign up as a campaigner to help us make sure cancer doesn’t become the forgotten ‘C’.
You can also post a message on our Wall of Support below to let people living with cancer know that they are not alone.

Write on the Wall of Support Close

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