We are pleased to announce that Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s 22/23 annual report has been published.
Click here to read the report, which captures the Cancer Alliance’s work throughout the year in line with the requirements of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Kartikae Grover as its new Clinical Director.
Kartikae will play a key role in bringing together the different organisations which provide cancer services in Humber and North Yorkshire to work collectively to improve cancer outcomes for the people living in the region.
Kartikae, Associate Chief Medical Officer (Quality and Safety) and a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, succeeds Dr Stuart Baugh who has served as the Cancer Alliance’s Clinical Director for several years.
He will officially join the Cancer Alliance role in June and will combine this role while continuing to work in his various positions at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Kartikae joined Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2011. He has played a pivotal role in establishing the trust’s health inequalities steering group, and has held a number of senior positions, including Clinical Information Officer, Governance Lead and Clinical Lead of the breast service. Kartikae was also chair of the Humber and Yorkshire Coast Cancer Network’s Breast Clinical Experts Group between 2012 and 2014.
Commenting on Kartikae’s appointment, Lucy Turner, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance Managing Director, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Kartikae as our new Clinical Director. Kartikae is passionate about cancer services, improving patient experience and outcomes and recognises the benefits of innovation and collaborative working.
“I want to place on record my sincere thanks to Stuart Baugh for his contribution to the Cancer Alliance over the last five years. He has played a significant role in driving and delivering key programmes such as the NHS Targeted Lung Health Checks in Humber and North Yorkshire.”
Kartikae said: “I am honoured to be joining the Cancer Alliance as Clinical Director. I am looking forward to commencing in this leadership role very soon and working with partners across the region to further develop cancer services which deliver the best possible treatments and care for patients.”
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and as the weather across the UK heats up, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has joined forces with Macmillan, SKCIN and MKM Building Supplies to raise awareness of skin cancer and the importance of those working outdoors protecting themselves.
Skin cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the UK with over 220,000 cases diagnosed annually and that number continues to rise. Outdoor workers receive five to 10 times more sun exposure and as a result are, on average at 60% greater risk of developing skin cancer. However, with simple precautions such as covering up with clothing and wearing sunscreen, this risk can be significantly reduced.
Throughout May, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, Macmillan and SKCIN, will be hosting skin cancer awareness information stalls in several MKM Building Supplies stores to raise awareness of the importance of outdoor workers protecting themselves, as well as what to look for when it comes to skin cancer signs and symptoms.
Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “You don’t have to be exposed to the sun for lengthy periods and it doesn’t have to be a clear and sunny day for the sun’s rays to damage your skin. Construction workers face all kinds of weather and just like they would don their high viz, waterproof jackets to protect themselves from the elements in winter, it’s equally important that they protect themselves from the harmful and powerful UV rays of the sun.”
Heather Lysiak, Macmillan Engagement Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire, added: “Over 90% of skin cancers are preventable by adopting protective approaches to sun exposure. This is why we are working together to raise awareness to those working in the outdoor industry.
“Outdoor workers are out in the elements year-round and need to be aware of the risk and the steps they can take to protect themselves. We hope that by taking the information direct to the workforce we can help encourage people to make simple changes that might just save their lives.”
“Rachel Constable Head of Environment, Social and Governance at MKM said: “When we were approached to work with Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, we immediately took the opportunity. Learning how much more at risk those working outdoors are of skin cancer was staggering, and we knew it was important to play a role in educating our teams and customers. We are looking forward to hosting the stalls and hope we can help to make a difference and encourage people to take positive actions to reduce their risks of developing skin cancer.”
SKCIN also offers the national Sun Safe Workplaces accreditation programme. Marie Tudor, CEO said: “Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is responsible for 90% of all skin cancer cases. This puts outdoor workers in one of the highest risk groups for skin cancer. Employers of outdoor workers have a legal obligation to assess the level of risk imposed to their workers, implement a sun protection policy and provide employees with information, instruction and training.
“Our Sun Safe Workplaces accreditation programme has been specifically developed to provide employers and HSRs with all the tools and resources they need to engage, educate, empower and equip their workers and provide clear evidence of their commitment to addressing these legal obligations.”
However, it’s not just outdoor workers that are at risk of developing skin cancer. Anyone, spending any length of time outdoors needs to understand the risks and how to protect themselves.
When the UV Index reaches three and above, SKCIN recommends the following five S approach to five-star sun protection that should be used in combination to prevent sun damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Even after taking precautions, it’s important to still know your skin and to be able to notice changes as they happen. Skin cancer can look different from one person to another. Dr Cottingham explained: “If you have an area of skin that’s sore, itchy, hurts, bleeds, crusts or scabs for four weeks or more, this could be a sign of skin cancer and it’s important to get this checked by your GP as soon as possible. Other things to look for include any small lumps that look unusual or a change to the size or shape of a mole or freckle.
“I advise checking your skin on a regular basis and if there’s something you’re not sure about, seek advice. It’s always better to be safe and cautious as the earlier cancer is detected the easier it can be to treat.”
As part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance will also be running several online awareness sessions for people to find out more about skin cancer and what to look for. The sessions are free and open to anyone from the Humber and North Yorkshire area. To book a place visit the Cancer Alliance Eventbrite page.
Another handy way of detecting potential abnormalities is to download the SKCIN APP. The app provides users with a wealth of information, images, self-management tools and features to promote both the prevention and early detection of skin cancer, enabling you to confidently take charge of your skin health and surveillance.
Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) play a vital role for people with cancer, supporting them to navigate services, explaining treatment plans, listening to people’s needs and preferences and being their advocate.
Wednesday 26th April is National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Awareness Day.
Here you can meet some of the CNS’s that are helping to care for people affected by cancer across Humber and North Yorkshire, as well as finding out more about some of the special online events planned for the day.
I have worked for the NHS for 17 years and have worked in breast care for most of my career. It has given me some pretty awesome opportunities along the way, and I have met some truly inspirational people.
My role is to provide support to patients and their family from the point of diagnosis and during their active treatment.
I see myself as a spare pair of ears when the patient is unable to take in all the information. I prepare patients for their treatments and support those for whom treatment is not an option. I am there to decipher medical jargon and to listen to a patient’s worries and concerns, supporting them the best I can and signposting to relevant support where appropriate. Most importantly I am the patients advocate, being the patients voice at a time where they may feel vulnerable or bewildered in this new world that is full of hospital appointments and cancer care.
Breast cancer is so common that most people diagnosed will know someone else who has been through it at some point in their lifetime. Treatments can be complex and not one size fits all so sometimes we need to explain why a patient is not having the same treatment as one of their friends or relatives.
Another element of my role is keeping up to date with current practice and supporting the doctors and other colleagues in their roles. I am involved in governance and writing policies for the trust as well. No day is the same but that is why I enjoy what I do.
I think the CNS role is a special one, so it is hard to really identify one best bit, but I can say that working with the patients and their families is very rewarding and is up there with one of the best parts of my role.
The team I work with are excellent and are more like my family than a team. No matter how difficult a day may get, we are all there to support one another. Working with such a diverse range of professionals certainly has its advantages and has really helped extend my knowledge within breast cancer care.
For me is knowing you have made a difference to the patients, either by answering a question about their treatment, or being there at an appointment to offer your support.
Support comes in many different shapes and sizes and each patient will need a varying amount of it. If I can go home and feel I have done a good job and helped someone, then that Is a good day.
I would recommend anyone wanting to be a CNS takes the leap once they have a good baseline and knowledge set. There is an awful lot of support and opportunities available to build on your existing knowledge and progress within your chosen speciality. It is also great to know that you have made a difference to a patient their family and helped them get through such a difficult time.
I have worked for the NHS since 1981 when I started my training in London. I simply wanted to help people and have absolutely loved being a nurse and would do it again in a heartbeat.
I was ready for a change and to progress, I wanted a role that fit in with my young family and I also wanted to specialise in a certain area and remain fully patient focussed.
I work in a combined role as a Nurse Practitioner and Breast Care Nurse. I am also the Team Leader for the Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Team at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS FT.
I am an integral member of the breast multi-disciplinary team and work closely with my colleagues in assessing, supporting, educating and caring for patients from prior to diagnosis to the end of treatment and beyond. Day to day, I work in clinics, assessing patients, requesting investigations and communicating the results to the patients.
As a team we all have differing skills and specialisms and we hope we offer a fantastic level of care to all our patients.
I also manage the day to day running of the team with help from our Service Manager and try to support them to develop fully in what can be a stressful role. I am always full of new ideas and plans to improve and develop the service
Still being able to engage with and support patients and their carer’s. Plus working as part of the best possible team of colleagues. Although it can be stressful and sad at times, I am always happy to come to work.
I hope I can get alongside patients at such a stressful time, share my specialist knowledge and support them throughout their time under our care.
Do it! It is the most amazing job. You get to work at an advanced level and still be working with patients. There is always something new to learn and you will be fully supported to develop.
I have worked on and off in the NHS for the last 20 years and I have been a Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the last 10 years.
I didn’t finish my training until I was thirty, so a bit older than most new qualified nurses but having more life experience really helped me in my training and later in my career.
From early on I wanted to be a specialist nurse specifically with an interest in palliative care or lung cancer. Looking after cancer patients puts us in an extremely privileged position especially as you are caring for people at their most vulnerable and when they need a person to trust and rely on to navigate and support them through their cancer journey.
Throughout my career I focused on gaining experience and knowledge and this meant working in both respiratory medicine and palliative care. This experience enabled me to have the right skills to become a Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Over the last 10 years my job has change beyond recognition but at the core the focus has always been supporting lung cancer patients.
One of the main skills for a cancer nurse is excellent communication skills and the ability to be flexible and adjust to a rapidly changing working environment. We first meet and support patients and their families at diagnosis and from that point our role can vary.
We can offer holistic care and personalised care planning, provide symptom management and health education for patients, as well as a wide range of advice and support as required. We can also be a patient advocate and a direct contact within the hospital and can refer patients to other services as needed.
We have highly specialist knowledge and play a core role in the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to improving standards of care across the pathway, as well as educating other health care professionals. Our role is constantly expanding and changing which makes this job so interesting.
The best part of my job has to be the patients, they constantly keep us on our toes, and I love that about them. I enjoy talking and listening to our patients but there is no better feeling than being told by someone that they feel better after speaking to me. I love my job today as much as I did 10 years ago, and it is constantly challenging and rewarding at the same time.
I am surrounded by the most amazing team, they make coming into work so enjoyable every day. They are all very supportive of me and each other and we all share the same goals and values what more can you ask for?
If people are thinking about nursing specifically going into cancer nursing or palliative care, you need to be resilient there will be many sad and emotional times, this can often take its toll on people’s wellbeing. Taking this all into consideration and if you are prepared for that cancer nursing can be the most rewarding job in the world.
A breakfast webinar is being held on 26th April between 8am and 9am to showcase and celebrate the dedicated Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist workforce. The event will showcase best practice in developing the Cancer CNS workforce and encourage important discussion and reflection on this vital role. A full agenda and guest panel will be announced shortly. Register your interest here.
Save the Date and Join the Discussion! A TweetChat will be held on Twitter on 26th April between 4-5pm to celebrate the role of the Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). More information to follow.
People in deprived areas are now more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at an earlier stage, thanks to the success of NHS lung trucks.
For the first time ever, new data shows more than a third of people diagnosed with lung cancer from the most deprived fifth of England were diagnosed at stage one or two in 2022 (34.5%) – up from 30% in 2019.
Lung MOTs, located in mobile trucks in supermarket carparks, launched in 2018 in areas of the country with the lowest lung cancer survival rates – and they have already made an impact on earlier diagnoses.
As part of the biggest programme to improve earlier cancer detection in health history, the NHS has now teamed up with the Roy Castle Lung Foundation on a new campaign encouraging the hundreds of thousands of people who are invited each month to take up the potentially lifesaving scan.
The campaign will be running over the coming months across social media, through online advertising and on posters in areas where lung checks are operating.
More than 300,000 (313,387) people have already taken up the offer and the trucks have diagnosed more than 1,750 (1,779) people with lung cancer. Over three-quarters (76%) were caught at stage one or two, compared with just a third caught at early stages in 2018.
People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.
Now at 43 sites across the country, the mobile trucks scan those most at risk from lung cancer, including current and ex-smokers, inviting them for an on-the-spot chest scan for those at the highest risk. Advice to help people stop smoking is also provided to those who attend.
Cancer survival is at an all-time high in England and the latest data shows the NHS is diagnosing more patients with cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, when it is easier to treat – over 100,000 (104,012) patients were diagnosed with cancer at stages one or two when it is easier to treat – the highest proportion on record.
National Director for Cancer, Dame Cally Palmer, said: “These findings are incredibly important – they show the power behind targeted health programmes with the NHS continuing its drive to detect cancers earlier by going into the heart of communities that may be less likely to come forward.
“While early diagnosis rates for cancer have traditionally been lower for deprived groups, thanks to the rollout of lung trucks, the NHS has turned a huge corner – and is now finding and treating those who would otherwise have been undetected.
“The NHS will not stop in its efforts to go out and find more cancers at an earlier point, when easier to treat, so if you have had an invite, please take it up, and as ever, if you are showing any signs of cancer, please come forward to your GP – getting checked could save your life”.
Health Minister Helen Whately said: “Catching lung cancer early saves lives, which is why we’re prioritising early diagnosis for those most at risk.
“These figures show how care closer to home for 300,000 people, using NHS lung trucks, has potentially saved over 1,750 lives.
“We’re laser-focused on fighting cancer on all fronts – prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, backed up with funding and research – and alongside these mobile trucks we have also opened 100 community diagnostic centres, which have delivered over 3.6 million additional tests, checks and scans, including lung checks”.
Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Paula Chadwick, said: “It is truly heartening to see the wonderful progress being made in the early detection of lung cancer because of the targeted lung health check programme and these checks are allowing us to get ahead of lung cancer for the first time, catching the disease at the earliest opportunity, often before symptoms even start, and treating it with an aim to cure.
“So many people have already benefitted from having a lung health check but there are also a lot of people who have been invited and not taken up the opportunity, so I urge anyone who receives an invitation to have the check – even if you feel well, even if you have no symptoms, even if you’re convinced there’s nothing wrong! You have been invited for a reason and when it comes to lung cancer, it is always best to check”.
Smoking causes more than seven in ten lung cancer cases in the UK. Previous trials have shown that CT screening reduced lung cancer mortality by 26% in men and between 39% and 61% in women.
Not only do the lung trucks scan for cancer, but they have also identified thousands of people with other undiagnosed conditions including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, enabling them to access the treatment they need earlier, and helping to prevent potential hospitalisations.
Thanks to awareness campaigns and early diagnosis drives, the NHS has been seeing and treating record numbers of people for cancer, with over 2.8 million getting checked for cancer in 2022, and over 320,000 people received treatment for cancer in the same year – up on 2.35 million checks and 8,000 treatments in the same period before the pandemic.
The NHS has also made considerable strides in bringing down the 62-day wait cancer backlog with 4,868 fewer people (19,027) waiting in March 19 compared to the same period the month before (23,874).
The main symptoms of lung cancer include:
The Lung Health Checks are now available in North East Lincolnshire. For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme in the Humber and North Yorkshire region please visit www.lunghealthchecks.org.uk.
A patient about to have their lungs checked
A diagnosis of childhood cancer understandably has a devastating impact on the emotional health and wellbeing of the child and their family, both during and after treatment. Children and young people’s treatment and experience of cancer differs greatly from adults, and we recognise the need for a personalised approach to their cancer care.
It’s so important for the NHS to listen and learn from children and young people in order to provide them with the best possible care and experience throughout treatment and to reduce the impact it has on them later in life.
We want to hear from children and young people, and their families, about their experiences so that we can continue to improve the care and services the NHS delivers.
The Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey builds on the work of the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey, understanding that cancer care pathways and care priorities for children and young people often differ to adults.
The survey has been running since 2020 and the results provide national-level insight into the experiences of children with cancer and informs how the NHS delivers cancer services going forward. Commissioners, providers and national policymakers use the results to assess performance both locally and nationally, to help identify priority areas for enhancing children’s cancer services. The aim is to radically improve the outcomes for children and young people affected by cancer.
The third wave of the survey is being implemented across England from April 2023. Children under 16 who received NHS cancer care during 2022 and their parents or carers will be invited to participate. They will be able to complete a paper questionnaire or an online version of the survey on any device.
Experience of care for people who use our services is extremely important, and the need for personalised care and treatment is well recognised. By contributing to the survey, young people and their parents or carers will help the NHS to continue to improve its services and better support children and young people receiving personalised care.
For more information on the survey visit www.under16cancerexperiencesurvey.co.uk
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, which works to improve cancer services, care and outcomes across Humber and North Yorkshire, is calling on local people to recognise the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and to take up screening opportunities if invited.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK yet data shows fewer than four in 10 people are diagnosed at an early stage when it is easier to treat, and one in three people who are sent a bowel cancer screening test in England do not complete it.
Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “Detecting bowel cancer at an early stage can make you nine times more likely to be successfully treated. It’s therefore important that people recognise the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and they take up screening when invited.
“With almost 43,000 people diagnosed in the UK each year, knowing the signs and symptoms to look for and speaking to your GP could make a big difference and lead to bowel cancer being caught earlier when it’s easier to treat.”
Symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Lindsey, from Hull, was 48 when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2021 after being admitted to hospital with severe abdominal pain and a perforated bowel.
Lindsey said: “I’d been experiencing bowel symptoms that were unusual for me for a few weeks, which I put down to stress. However, during March and April 2021 the symptoms I was experiencing suddenly got worse and I started to develop a feeling of pressure and an ache in my back.
“I tried different medications prescribed by my GP, but nothing seemed to help. I was in so much pain I knew something wasn’t right and blood tests eventually showed some abnormalities.”
That weekend, before Lindsey had chance to speak to her GP about her results, she was admitted to hospital with a perforated bowel. She had urgent surgery and started chemotherapy a few weeks later. Lindsey’s chemotherapy successfully reduced her tumour and in December 2021 she took the decision to have further surgery to remove her colon to reduce the risk of her cancer returning.
Lindsey added: “I am living proof that if something doesn’t feel right it’s so important to speak to your GP and to make sure that all the necessary checks are carried out. If a problem is caught early your chances of making a full recovery can be much better.”
Gary, a Royal Navy veteran from East Yorkshire, was diagnosed with bowel cancer following routine screening in 2018, despite having no symptoms and feeling fit and well in himself. Following surgery and chemotherapy to treat his cancer Gary is now urging others to take up their screening.
“Getting that letter through the post inviting me for the screening was like winning the lottery,” Gary said. “I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life. If you’re asked to take part in screening, get over the embarrassment and just do it. I thought I was fit and healthy, I had no symptoms at all when I had my test, but bowel screening saved my life. If I can help to save just one other person by telling my story, it will be worth it.”
Dr Cottingham said: “Your next poo could save your life. If you receive an NHS bowel screening kit, put it by the loo, don’t put it off. One small sample can detect signs of bowel cancer before you know anything is wrong.
For more information on bowel cancer, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer
More than 19,000 people in North East Lincolnshire are being invited for a free NHS Targeted Lung Health Check, which can identify potential lung problems earlier when they are easier to treat.
The checks are open to past and present smokers aged between 55 and 74, who are registered with a local GP, and support the NHS ambition to detect more cancers at an earlier stage.
Eligible people are being contacted in phases and will receive a letter from their GP inviting them to book an appointment. Those first receiving invites are patients from The Roxton Practice Immingham, followed by Open Door and Quayside Medical Centre.
Dr Stuart Baugh, Clinical Director for the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in North East Lincolnshire said: “Lung cancer especially, is often diagnosed at a later stage as there are rarely symptoms early in the illness. The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme checks those most at risk of developing lung cancer to spot signs of lung and chest problems earlier when treatment can be simpler and more effective.”
Dr Iain Chalmers, Cancer Care Lead for North and North East Lincolnshire and Medical Director at St Andrews Hospice Grimsby added: “Lung Health Checks are going to make a huge difference to so many people. I urge anyone, who receives a letter, to make an appointment. If any problems with your lungs are found early, it could ultimately save your life.”
Anyone invited for a Lung Health Check has an initial 20-minute phone assessment with a specially trained health care professional. This looks at breathing, lifestyle, family, and medical history. If the assessment finds the person to be at high risk, they are offered a low dose CT scan which can detect early signs of lung cancer or lung disease.
CT scans take place in a mobile unit in community locations such as supermarket car parks and sports stadiums, making it easy for people to park and drop in. As the Lung Health Checks will operate in phases, the unit will move around to be convenient and accessible to people in those areas. Details of the locations can be found at www.lunghealthcheck.org.uk as they’re released.
Lung Health Checks are offered at various times during the week, making it as easy and convenient as possible for people to take up the opportunity. The mobile units being in central locations such as shopping centres mean people needing a CT scan can even combine this with their weekly shop, removing the need for any unnecessary journeys too.
During the check, current smokers will also be offered advice to support them to stop smoking should they wish to, and the Lung Health Check team will also be available to answer any questions people might have.
Scan results are analysed by specialist clinicians and participants receive their results in approximately four weeks. If further follow up is needed, participants are referred by the service to their GP or hospital.
Stuart added: “Finding cancers early is essential. From what we’ve seen during the initial pilot phases, such as that in nearby Hull, Lung Health Checks are undoubtedly playing a big part in improving cancer outcomes across the UK.”
For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme please visit www.lunghealthchecks.org.uk.
A new initiative to check for liver cancer in high-risk communities has been rolled out as part of a major NHS drive to catch more cancers earlier and save lives.
The roaming trucks performed more than 7,000 fibroscans and identified over 830 people with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis, a leading cause of liver cancer, in eight months (June 2022 to January 2023) – with the majority of those identified referred on to further care.
The mobile trucks are visiting high-risk communities across the country at GP practices, recovery services, food banks, diabetes clinics, sexual health clinics and homeless shelters to perform quick, non-invasive scans.
The trucks are expected to visit and scan 22,000 people during the first year of the pilot scheme.
Checks are being offered in the community to adults with high levels of alcohol consumption, a current diagnosis or history of past viral hepatitis, or non-alcoholic liver disease, as these factors increase the risk of developing liver cancer.
NHS staff are already visiting at-risk communities as part of the Hepatitis C Elimination Programme and the programme is being expanded to include a liver health check involving an on-the-spot fibrosis scan which detects liver damage.
Around 6,100 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year but the number of cases has doubled over the past decade and is expected to continue to rise.
Currently only one in three liver cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, but this programme will help catch more cancers earlier, giving patients a much better chance of surviving the illness. If caught early, patients have a 70-90% chance of survival for five years or more with treatment.
Thanks to the efforts of NHS staff, major public awareness campaigns and targeted screening interventions, more people than ever before are being checked and treated for cancer – with over 2.8 million people checked for cancer and 322,000 starting treatment for cancer in the last year (February 2022 – January 2023).
The NHS has also made significant progress on the 62 day cancer backlog – reducing it by around 10,000 from an all-time high of 33,950 last summer to 22,282 for week ending 26 February 2023, despite record levels of demand on cancer services.
Dame Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director for the NHS in England, said: “Building on the success of other community diagnostic schemes, like our lung trucks, this innovative surveillance programme is bringing lifesaving checks to people who are at a higher risk of liver cancer, and who may have found it difficult to come forward or access health care otherwise.
“The on-the-spot liver scans have already found that around one in ten people in communities visited have advanced liver damage that needs further monitoring or treatment as it could lead to liver cancer – ensuring these people are seen early and referred on for further testing will help us to diagnose cancers at an earlier stage.
“We’ve already seen hundreds of people diagnosed at an earlier stage through our targeted lung cancer trucks, and now with the addition of NHS teams offering these vital liver checks in mobile trucks across the country, I urge anyone who is offered a scan in their community to take up the opportunity.”
Those who are deemed high risk will be provided with information about their level of risk and where appropriate will be referred to their GP. If needed, patients will be referred straight into a six-month liver surveillance care programme, where they will be partnered with a peer support worker who will continue to check in, as well as offer guidance and help informed by people who have experienced liver disease themselves.
The pilot scheme delivers on the NHS Long Term Plan ambition to detect cancer as early as possible so that three in four people have their cancer detected at a very early stage when treatment is more effective. The screening programme means that patients get access to the specialist services they need quickly – regardless of where they live.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS clinical director for cancer said: “Liver cancer can be hard to detect at an early stage and so these checks, for people who have been identified as higher risk, are an essential part of the NHS’s action to find more people with cancer – and in groups that may otherwise find it hard to access lifesaving tests.
“There are diseases that we know increase the risk of liver cancer, which is why the liver trucks will be visiting particular treatment clinics.
“Lives are saved when cancers are caught early and when more people are referred for tests, which is why the NHS has put so much effort into early diagnosis in recent years, as well as increasing to access to testing.”
Health Minister Helen Whately said: “We know the earlier we detect cancer, the earlier treatment can begin and the better the chance of a patient recovering.
“We are supporting the NHS to bring liver scans into the heart of communities to help tens of thousands of patients to receive a potentially life-saving diagnosis sooner”.
Symptoms of liver cancer include unexpected weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting blood, and pain or swelling of the abdomen. If anyone has symptoms of liver cancer, they should contact their GP straight away.
The programme will identify those at risk of the most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which makes up 85% of all liver cancers.
Health chiefs have doubled spending on cancer awareness campaigns and continue to encourage people to come forward for checks if invited by the NHS or if they have experienced any worrying symptoms.
Nathan Motherwell, a peer support worker who works for the Hepatitis C Trust in support of the Hepatitis C Elimination programme is visiting communities in Kent to carry out liver checks.
Nathan, who began working for substance misuse programmes in 2007, said he likely had hepatitis C for around 12 years before being diagnosed.
Speaking about the success of the Hep C Elimination Programme, Nathan said: “Thanks to our targeted approach to supporting these at risk communities, we have developed a strong rapport with them which has encouraged more people who otherwise would be reluctant, to come forward for potentially life-saving scans on the community vans.
“Our refer-a-friend scheme has also increased the number of people coming forward for scans and helped identify more people with hepatitis C so that they can get the treatment they need sooner – this shows how impactful a relatable face can be and we hope to replicate this success with the liver check expansion.”
In his peer role, Nathan stays in contact with people who approach the programme, often visiting them to remind them to take medicines and keeping stock of what they have taken.
The work of the Hep C Elimination Programme is also widely known among the wider network of support schemes in Kent, which enables them to refer people to the relevant teams for further help if needed.
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