136,000 people now living with ‘chronic cancer’

A new Macmillan Cancer Support study has shown that 136,000 people with treatable but not curable cancer are going without much-needed support.

This new group of patients have been studied for the first time, with Macmillan Cancer Support highlighting how the complexity and uncertainty of the condition is likely to be causing them significantly higher levels of anxiety, fear, pain, sleep problems and fatigue. This is often due to factors including the requirement for constant tests, appointments and procedures to monitor the disease, prolonged treatment to extend life and an all-consuming unpredictability about the prognosis.

The study also found that more than three quarters (77 per cent) of treatable but not curable patients are not getting the emotional or physical support they need with issues related to their cancer. This is significantly higher than for people with cancer overall (68 per cent).

The lack of support is being made worse due to the workforce challenges facing the health and care service; at present, overstretched healthcare professionals often don’t have the time or resources to provide the personalised care this group urgently needs. The changing nature of cancer and complexity of conditions like this is another reason why it is so vital there are enough NHS staff, with the right skills and right resources, to provide the personalised care patients need and deserve both right now and in the future.

Nikki Cannon, specialist advisor for Workforce Engagement at Macmillan Cancer Support says: “The needs of people living with treatable but not curable cancer are many and complex. These include physical impacts of long-term treatments like fatigue, dietary issues and pain control, alongside the very real psychological difficulties of living with the uncertainty of an incurable illness.

“People are living longer with ‘chronic’ cancer, their needs are becoming more complex and healthcare professionals need training to keep up. This involves advanced communications skills to handle difficult conversations and understanding of the latest treatments and management of side effects. However, the experts and compassionate workforce who want to provide personalised care for this group simply don’t have the capacity or resources to do so at present.”