Cancer care is changing, and as more people live with and beyond cancer, we need to focus on long-term support. Personalised care makes sure that each person gets the right help for their unique needs, not just during treatment but afterward as well. As the new Vice Chair of the RCN Cancer Forum, I am dedicated to advancing this work and supporting nursing colleagues in making cancer care more inclusive and patient-focused.
At the beginning of this year, I was proud to step into the role of Vice Chair of the RCN Cancer Forum. My current role at the South Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, funded by Macmillan, is focused on transforming personalised care. My background as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) spans cancer care, acute oncology, and primary care. I have also worked in digital healthcare within the private sector, giving me a wide-ranging perspective on patient needs and how healthcare systems work together.
Through these experiences, I have come to see that cancer is still not fully recognised as a long-term condition. Over the years, we have focused so much on improving treatments and specialist care that we have often overlooked the need for long-term support. Right now, around 3 million people in the UK are living with cancer—a number that has increased by 39% over the past 20 years. This is expected to rise to nearly 4 million by 2030. While survival rates are improving thanks to earlier detection and better treatments, many people say they do not feel supported once their main treatment ends.
In my current role, co-production—working with patients to design better services—is a key focus. Many patients have told us that they feel well-supported during treatment but then struggle afterward, describing the experience as “falling off a cliff.” As more people live longer with cancer, we need to rethink how we support them. Instead of relying solely on specialist cancer services, we must integrate cancer care into primary care and community settings. The Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector is a crucial partner in this work, helping us reach underserved groups and improving quality of life.
We also know that cancer treatment can leave people with long-term health problems. One in four people treated for cancer will develop chronic conditions or disabilities related to their treatment, such as lymphoedema, heart disease, bowel and bladder issues, or psychological distress. These effects can appear years after treatment ends, meaning that cancer care cannot simply stop once a patient leaves the hospital. We need a whole-system approach that ensures ongoing, person-centred support.
Recognising this, the RCN Cancer Forum has set several priorities for the year ahead. One key goal is to support non-specialist nurses in feeling more confident when talking to patients about cancer. Many nurses outside of oncology regularly care for people affected by cancer, whether in GP practices, hospitals, or community settings. It is essential that they have the knowledge and skills to guide patients to the right support, have meaningful conversations, and address concerns. Research from the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey shows why this is so important:
- Over half of respondents said they did not feel supported by their primary care team during treatment.
- More than half were not informed about long-term side effects before starting treatment.
- Only 63% said they were given practical advice on managing treatment side effects.
- While 68% said their different healthcare teams worked well together, this leaves many patients experiencing gaps in care.
These findings highlight the need to increase awareness among all healthcare professionals, not just those working in specialist oncology services.
We often think of personalised cancer care as specific tools—Holistic Needs Assessments (HNA), Cancer Care Reviews (CCR), End of Treatment Summaries, and health and well-being support. While these are important, they are not the whole picture. Personalised care is about much more than checklists—it is about ensuring that every person affected by cancer receives care that reflects their individual needs, values, and concerns. Every conversation with a healthcare professional is an opportunity to provide reassurance, guidance, and meaningful support.
Macmillan’s Chief Executive Gemma Peters recently stated:
“As the number of people living with cancer in the UK rises to almost 3.5 million, change is urgently needed to improve cancer services and address the unacceptable gaps in the best and worst experiences.”
With nearly half a million more people living with cancer in 2025 than just five years ago, we must ensure we are not only adding years to life but also improving quality of life. Personalised care, done well, is key to achieving this—but it must be embedded across the whole cancer journey.
