One in every two people will get cancer in their lifetime – but more people than ever are living well after cancer. In fact, the number of people who survive after being diagnosed with cancer has doubled in the last 40 years.
But the number of preventable cancers, linked to a variety of factors such as smoking, diet and obesity, sun exposure and alcohol, are increasing.
Reporting signs and symptoms early, attending cancer screening appointments and accessing care promptly can all contribute to the early detection and treatment of cancer.
We want to take every opportunity to prevent cancer and ensure outstanding cancer care is provided, so people living with cancer in Cheshire and Merseyside have the best possible outcome.
What is a Cancer Alliance?
Cancer Alliances bring everyone involved in the delivery cancer care together to improve outcomes for patients locally. The aim of a cancer alliance is to call on the expertise of clinicians, patients and community leaders; and to work in collaboration to improve the experience of people living with cancer.
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance covers a population of more than 2.5 million people across nine boroughs and the Isle of Man. This includes 14 hospital trusts providing cancer services, nine Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), and approximately 50 Primary Care Networks (PCNs) which cover 375 GP practices.
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance was established in 2016, along with others across the country, to provide a more localised and focused approach to cancer care.
Our work aims to reduce variation in care across the region and improve access to high quality, person-centred services across the whole cancer care pathway. You can find out more about cancer in Cheshire and Merseyside here.
CMCA Roadshows
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance has been on the road during 2022 and 2023 with a series of events to engage the public, listen to people’s cancer experiences and understand how people are feeling about cancer services in their local area.
A secondary aim of the Roadshows were to recruit patient representatives from diverse backgrounds.
A report has been created to provide and overview of individual findings for each location visited in 2022 and evaluate the outcomes of the Roadshows. You can read the report here.
Early Diagnosis Community Engagement project
The Cancer Alliance's Early Diagnosis Community Engagement project aims to support the earlier diagnosis of cancer which will save lives and improve quality of life for people affected by cancer.
It has a focus on tackling inequalities in cancer outcomes across Cheshire and Merseyside, and support and empower the population of these targeted areas.
The project seeks to support local communities to reduce their risk of dying from cancer, by improving community understanding and awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer and encouraging appropriate health seeking behaviour.
Read more about the project here.
Information and support
We are dedicated to supporting people living with and beyond cancer to be able to manage their own health needs and to live as well as possible. Please see resources and links below that can help to do this.
Free cancer awareness toolkit for community engagement
Want to make a difference in your local community and improve cancer outcomes for local people? But not sure how or where to start? Feel anxious to talk about cancer or don’t have experience in community engagement?
Would you like practical top tips from a successful Cheshire and Merseyside local community cancer awareness project?
Getting information in a clear, relevant way to people so they make positive choices to reduce risk of cancer or get an earlier diagnosis has never been more relevant.
The Action on Cancer Toolkit has been developed to help organisations engage with their communities and talk cancer. The toolkit will give you access to practical advice and resources - tried and tested methods to improve cancer outcomes for local people.
The toolkit helps community organisers to achieve three main objectives:
- Encourage and give people the knowledge and advice to have healthier lifestyles, reducing their risk of developing cancer
- Increase early diagnosis of cancers by promoting screening programmes
- Give people the ability to recognise possible early signs and symptoms of cancer and the confidence to get checked out promptly
The Toolkit has been developed from a successful project in South Cheshire and Vale Royal which transformed cancer outcomes. From being among the worst places in the UK for early diagnosis and one year cancer survival, they became nationally recognised as two of the most improved areas for cancer survival for three consecutive years.
Click here for more information, watch a short introductory video by clicking here, and download the Action on Cancer Toolkit by clicking here . In doing so you will have access to top tips and a wealth of resources to support you in sharing #positive_cancer_messages in your own community.
Cancer Care Map
Helps you to find cancer support services in your local area wherever you are in the UK.
Macmillan
Can provide information and support to people living with and beyond cancer and their loved ones online, over the phone, or through local support groups. Website: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support.
Telephone: 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am – 8pm).
Cancer Support UK
Telephone: 020 3983 7616.
Cancer52
Cancer52 represents over 100 predominantly small patient support group cancer charities united by their vision of seeing a better future for everyone affected by the rare and less common cancers, which account for more than half of all cancer deaths in the UK.
Cancer52’s aim is to promote improved diagnosis, treatment, and support for those affected by rare and less common cancers – defined as all cancers outside the ‘big four’ of breast, prostate, lung, and bowel.
W: Cancer52.org.uk / T: @Cancer52.org / FB: facebook.com/Cancer52org/ / LI: linkedin.com/company/cancer52/
NHS Live Well
Advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.
Cancer Quality of Life Survey
From July 2021, all patients diagnosed with cancer in England are being invited to complete the survey around 18 months after their diagnosis. The information collected from the survey will help us to work out how best to support people living with and beyond cancer.
The survey takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete and can be done online, on paper, or over the phone. You will be asked about your well-being.
If you agree to complete the survey, the answers you give will be collected by a company called Quality Health on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement. Your personal information will be kept safe by them, and your answers will be dealt with in confidence.
Your survey responses will not be seen by any health professionals providing you with care. If you are worried about your health, or the way you are feeling, please get in touch with your GP or specialist nurse. Your medical care will continue in the same way whether you choose to take part in the survey or not.
Please contact Quality Health (the survey provider) for any of the following:
- If you have any questions or comments about the survey,
- If you would like to fill in the survey over the phone,
- If you require the survey in another format (e.g. in another language),
- Or, if you would like to opt-out.
To contact Quality Health, use:
Freephone helpline: 0800 783 1775 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Email: helpline@quality-health.co.uk
Website: www.cancerqol.england.nhs.uk
Address: Freepost QUALITY HEALTH
(you do not need to write anything else on the envelope and you do not need a stamp)
A Quality of Life Survey patient information leaflet, produced by NHS England, gives an overview of the Cancer Quality of Life Survey and how to complete it. It is available here.
For further information please visit the Quality of Life Survey website by clicking here.
Information leaflets and videos
An adapted version of the patient information leaflet, is available in accessible formats (easy read and BSL) and has been translated into the five most commonly used languages in Cheshire and Merseyside.
There is also a BSL video explaining the QoL survey.
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An Information Video has produced by Healthwatch Warrington for the Cancer Alliance, explaining the QoL survey. You can see it here.
Feedback from people who have experienced cancer care and treatment is an important part of improving services. It helps us to know what’s working well and what needs to be improved, making things better for everyone.
Each year, NHS England and NHS Improvement run a large survey through a company called Picker, to find out more about people’s experiences of cancer services. This is known as the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey. If you have received care or treatment in hospital for cancer, you may be invited to take part.
The survey asks questions such as how and when your cancer was diagnosed, how involved you felt in decisions about your care and treatment and how much information you were given. There are also questions about how you were treated and how much support you were given by other NHS or social services.
We need to hear everyone’s views so if you are invited to take part, please do respond. The survey is sent to you by post, but you can complete it online or over the phone if you prefer. You will receive a letter with your survey explaining how to do this.
If you require the survey in another format or language, or have any questions, please contact Picker (the survey provider). Their contact details are included in the invitation letter.
Your survey responses will not be seen by any health professionals providing you with care. If you are worried about your health, or the way you are feeling, please get in touch with your GP or specialist nurse. Your medical care will continue in the same way whether you choose to take part in the survey or not.
A National Cancer Patient Experience Survey patient information leaflet, produced by NHS England, gives an overview of the survey and how to complete it. It is available here.
Further information about the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey can be found here: https://www.ncpes.co.uk/
Information leaflets and videos
An adapted version of the patient information leaflet, is available in accessible formats (easy read and BSL) and has been translated into the seven most commonly used languages in Cheshire and Merseyside.
There is also a BSL video explaining the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey.
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English |
Easy read |
BSL |
Polish |
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Slovak |
Tagalog |
Bengali |
Arabic |
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Chinese |
French |
