The number of people living with cancer in the UK has increased to almost 3.5 million, the highest figure ever reported for the UK — that’s almost half a million more people living with cancer in 2025 than there were just five years ago. Cancer is one of the greatest health challenges of our time, and it’s never been more important that people get the best care the UK has to offer. Everyone’s experience of cancer is unique, yet we know that there are unacceptable differences in the care that people are receiving. Whatever a person’s cancer journey looks like, no one should have worse experiences or face greater difficulties accessing care and support simply because of who they are or where they live. This has to change.
We know through recent research by Macmillan that one in five people going through cancer treatment (20%) are struggling with serious physical or emotional concerns for which they are not receiving any support, which means that’s true for tens of thousands of people across the UK. This is why we’re backing the Daily Express’s Cancer Care campaign to ensure patients receive mental health care both during and after their treatment. The healthcare system is under intense pressure, and it is not currently meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised people with cancer.
Macmillan’s analysis of the latest national Cancer Patient Experience Survey for England shows that just two in three LGBTQ+ patients and a similar proportion of black patients feel that they get enough support with their overall needs while in hospital, lower than the national average of three in four patients.
Whilst good quality medical care is important, cancer can affect every aspect of a person’s life, it can impact their relationships, jobs, finances and more and that can last long after treatment ends.
For more than 100 years, Macmillan has revolutionised cancer care with new ideas that help improve the lives of people with cancer up and down the UK. Cancer care and support should revolve around the individual and what they need to manage their diagnosis and treatment.
That is why Macmillan helped drive the development of digital assessments, known as electronic Holistic Needs Assessments (eHNAs), to ensure every person diagnosed can discuss their individual needs with their care team and get the help they need.
Creating solutions that go beyond the hospital setting and reflect the needs of every person with cancer is essential. Many of the barriers that people face fall outside of the health system and don’t meet the needs of vulnerable individuals.
For example, just the other week I heard of a cancer support group having been set up in the community in Leicester for people from ethnic minority backgrounds who struggled to find support outside of their immediate family. Cancer is already enough; nobody should have to go through this.
Therefore, it’s about having a conversation with an expert who can proactively assess and identify what matters to them and where someone is struggling, whether that be financially, emotionally, or physically. By developing personalised care and support plans, healthcare professionals can ensure those needs are met at every stage of a person’s care and treatment.
A truly person-centred care approach will not only meet the unique needs of everyone with cancer but could also ease pressure on an overloaded health system.
Identifying and providing effective support to people living with cancer early on, based on an assessment of their needs, can prevent people from falling into crisis, keep them out of hospital and help them stay in better health for longer.
This is why proactive person-centred, wraparound cancer care should be a central part of the Government’s vision for delivering a neighbourhood health service in England through their forthcoming Ten-Year Plan.
It could have a transformative impact on the healthcare system and on meeting the needs of people with cancer. There is a unique opportunity here, and by working in partnership with the Government and NHS, we can revolutionise cancer care now and for the future so more people with cancer get the best care the UK has to offer, whoever and wherever they are.
Anyone who has concerns or questions about cancer should speak to their medical team, or call Macmillan’s free support line for information, guidance or just a listening ear on 0808 808 00 00, or visit our website at www.macmillan.org.uk
Eve Byrne is the Director of National System Change at Macmillan Cancer Support
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