Macmillan Cancer Support

“I was called Rachel at one of my appointments, and while it wasn’t a problem for me, it leads you to thinking, ‘Is someone coming into work and not reading their notes?’ Everyone wants to be acknowledged as more than their cancer diagnosis and understood as an individual.” When Richard was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, effective communication was key to building trust and respect when receiving cancer care. In a special edition episode of The Cancer Professionals Podcast, recorded live at our Macmillan Professionals Conference in Wales in November, we discussed the importance of communication when navigating a cancer diagnosis and talking to people living with cancer. You can find this podcast episode by searching for The Cancer Professionals on your preferred streaming platform.

“Christmas is such a magical time, I love it. It is an incredible event to bring people together, take a break from the stresses of the festive period and relax and enjoy some beautiful music while doing good for people living with cancer.” Our brilliant colleague Adele, is also the Chair of Macmillan’s West Yorkshire Fundraising Group. The group are organising a magical Christmas concert on Tuesday 10 December, at Leeds Minster. The concert will be a mix of spectacular musical performances and readings in the beautiful setting of the Minster. The concert will be hosted by Matt Jameson and Jen Phoenix, a British Sign Language interpreter will be back for a second year to sign the concert, so everyone has the chance to enjoy the evening. “Anyone can be affected by cancer, whether through a personal experience or a loved one'. We want the Christmas concert to be a joyful opportunity to reflect, remember and make a difference for local people affected by cancer. This year is even more poignant, as we sadly lost a great friend and fellow member of the fundraising group, Lizzie, to cancer. “Lizzie loved Christmas; she will be in our hearts and thoughts as we aim to raise all we can with this event. Alongside the concert, we are hopeful this event will help our fundraising group surpass the £20,000 mark this year, all of which will provide support for people in our community who are living with cancer. Our services are needed now more than ever. Thanks to the support of incredible fundraisers, like Adele, we can continue to do whatever it takes for people living with cancer. 💚

Adrian Sutton is an Olivier award-winning composer, and we are lucky enough to have him join us for our annual Macmillan Christmas Carol Concert at Cadogan Hall in London, with a newly commissioned piece of music for this year’s celebrations. Adrian’s participation in next Tuesday’s event is all the more meaningful as he is living with incurable cancer, having been diagnosed in 2022. “There's always a ripple of excitement and nervousness as a composer; once you put notes on a page you’re waiting to hear if it sounds as you imagined in that first performance. The Macmillan Christmas Carol Concert is celebratory, which I love. Macmillan Cancer Support are a fantastic charity and I can’t wait for next week’s event.” Thank you, Adrian for sharing both your story and your music with us. We are so excited to hear your new piece, ‘An Advent Calendar' at the Carol Concert. 💚

The voices of people with cancer should be at the centre of shaping a health service that meets their needs. We're pleased to endorse this report. No matter who you are or where you live, everybody should have access to the best care and support. 💚

The Macmillan Cancer Community Network brings together people and partners from London, the South East and East of England, all with a shared commitment to tackle inequities in cancer care. At our recent conference in London, the networks came together to learn more about the services and support they each provide to local communities, and how they can collaborate to ensure people affected by cancer can navigate and source the vital resources and support they need. Thank you to everyone who brought the day to life and to help us move towards a more equitable future in cancer care. Are you interested in joining the Cancer Community Networks? Find out more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ef9fvXXf

We recently went behind the scenes of A Deeper Love music video with Gok Wan and the House Gospel Choir! 🎥 Gok is releasing A Deeper Love (A Tribute To Allison) featuring the House Gospel Choir, in memory of his close friend Allison who lived with Stage 4 cancer for several years but sadly passed away in May 2024. “This project has been so personal to me, and the House Gospel Choir have done an incredible job in bringing this project to life with their transcending, soulful vocal arrangement, filled with love and hope. It was hugely important to me that we could bring justice to this track as it was Allison's favourite song and meant so much to her. “This track represents her life and the impact she made on everyone around her, and I count myself lucky enough to be one of those people! “This track holds a huge place in our hearts and serves as a well-deserved tribute to Allison, and all those who loved her. I hope it will help others on their journey, and raises lots of money for Macmillan Cancer Support.” We are so grateful to Gok for releasing this charity single. All profits from this single will help us continue to support people living with cancer. You can preview the song and pre-order here: https://lnkd.in/e-RFkfFp 💚

We’re working with OUTpatients, the UK’s leading LGBTQIA cancer charity, to transform cancer care into a more inclusive environment for everyone. We’re supporting OUTpatients by funding their peer support service lead. The peer support service coordinates and runs support groups and support services for both LGBTIQ+ people with cancer, and those who love and support them, such as partners, carers, friends and families, including chosen families. OUTpatients spoke to us about the necessity of their services in the landscape of cancer support today. “Alongside running support groups, OUTpatients’ peer support service offers advice and advocacy to those who reach out to us directly. As part of our advocacy, we engage with cancer centres, do outreach at patient conferences and Pride events, and create new support options for our community. Making sure cancer care and services reach and support more LGBTIQ+ people can be a lifeline to those in need. “Data shows us that our community has poorer experiences of cancer care, and access to early detection through screening is limited. For example, errors in the cervical and breast screening invitations system means trans people who are eligible are not invited for screening if they have a male patient record. “Being educated on the issues that face LGBTIQ+ people in cancer care is a great way to make services more inclusive. OUTpatients runs tailored education sessions for organisations of all sizes. Our unique expertise has been sought internationally across different cancer settings, where we work closely with professionals across the whole spectrum of cancer care.”

We are sending our best wishes to Davina and her family. In speaking so openly, Davina is inspiring others who are facing a similar situation and raising vital awareness. In this blog, we share answers to questions people might have about brain tumours and colloid cysts after hearing Davina’s news. https://lnkd.in/e9hZM-Jj

A person's cancer experience shouldn’t depend on who you are, where you live, or how much money you have. We will work together with people who have the worst experiences of cancer, to help make cancer care fair for everyone. If you need support or advice, call our Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00. 💚 https://lnkd.in/ey9SPSfF

Our final winners at this year's Professionals Excellence Awards are the Cangene-Canvar Patient Decision Aid Co-design Team who won the ‘Integration Excellence’ award for the comprehensive and inclusive work they have been doing to support people with Lynch syndrome. People with Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the chance of developing certain cancers, often struggle to navigate the sometimes complex and emotionally charged decisions around their care due to a lack of joined-up support and trustworthy information. To support these patients' unique needs, teams at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Southampton partnered to develop Lynch Choices, a patient decision aid website that helps people make informed decisions about their healthcare. Macmillan Lead Consultant Genetic Counsellor Kelly, explains the impact this tool is having. “Lynch Choices can fill a gap in integrated care pathways and support decision-making. This will alleviate some of the personal burden people feel to seek information and support and educate others, including healthcare professionals.” Congratulations to the teams involved in this important project! Your hard work and dedication have made a huge difference to people with cancer in your community. 💚