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Hundreds of thousands of cancer patients will receive vital mental health support months earlier than expected following a Daily Express campaign. The move, announced by the government, aims to end a postcode lottery that has left patients struggling with anxiety and depression during and after treatment.
Despite the psychological toll of a cancer diagnosis, mental health issues are often overlooked by medical teams, while support, when available, may be insufficient or short-lived. According to the Express Cancer Care campaign led by our reporter Robert Fisk – who has incurable bowel cancer – all newly diagnosed cancer patients will have a personal cancer plan by the end of this year.
The scheme should then be rolled out to all cancer patients in England next year. By 2028 they will be on the
NHS App – allowing it to be regularly reviewed and updated as people’s needs change.
It means that anyone diagnosed with cancer has a comprehensive support plan that covers not only their treatment but also their wider physical and mental health and social needs. The latter includes employment and financial support, many of which they access through services in their area.
They also receive an end-of-treatment summary to address the cliff edge that many face when chemotherapy or surgery is finished – giving them clear guidance on warning signs, who to call with concerns and where to find ongoing support such as physiotherapy, counseling and local cancer groups.
Health Innovation Minister James Frith said: “A cancer diagnosis should not navigate treatment alone, and no one should fall off a cliff when their treatment ends. That’s why every newly diagnosed cancer patient in England is offered their own personal cancer plan – a full support package covering not only the medical treatment they receive, but how their wider physical and mental health needs will be helped with their work and financial situation and their work will be treated.
“This is a crucial part of our National Cancer Plan, which will tackle this cruel disease on all fronts – from faster diagnosis, improved treatments and better patient care, to the advanced research and new clinical trials that will help us defeat cancer for good.
“I want to applaud the Express’ tireless campaigning on this issue, which has been crucial in helping to drive real change on behalf of millions of cancer patients.”
The promise of a personal cancer plan for every patient came from former health secretary Wes Streeting back in February. It has been our long campaign to demand that mental health support is provided throughout a patient’s treatment and recovery, rather than just at diagnosis. A firm date for the rollout has not been set, with people working on the plan behind the scenes suggesting early next year.
There was concern at the time that leadership changes in the government – in which Mr Streeting was moved to the post of defense secretary and Yvette Cooper became health secretary – would delay it even further. Charities supporting the Daily Express Cancer Care campaign welcomed the news of the rollout.
Macmillan Cancer Support senior external affairs manager Priyanka Patel said: “Cancer can affect every part of your life, from your physical and mental health to your finances, work and relationships. Personal cancer plans can play a vital role in helping people live well with cancer, ensuring people get support tailored to what matters most to them. The care they need.”
Pancreatic Cancer UK senior policy and health improvement manager Peter De Rosa said: “Pancreatic cancer is uniquely aggressive.
“Patients’ physical health can deteriorate heartbreakingly quickly, while simply learning the appalling survival rates can take a heavy mental and emotional toll on everyone affected, including family and friends. The right support in place is so important to help people tolerate treatment, manage symptoms and spend precious time with their loved ones.”
Holly Heath, head of policy at Breast Cancer Now, said: “No one should face this devastating disease without the right support. Breast cancer affects every aspect of a person’s life, including daily activities, work and their friends and family.
“So it’s great that personal cancer plans can help people get tailored support that not only addresses their treatment, but also their wider emotional and financial needs. We need to make sure that this support is available from the moment someone needs it, but, just as crucially, that it continues when treatment is over. People often tell us that at this point they feel like they’ve fallen off a cliff edge or relapsed over cancer.
The head of the Brain Tumor Charity, Dr Michele Afif, said: “The commitment to personal cancer plans in England is a welcome step forward, reflecting long-standing calls from people affected by brain tumours.
“For our community, the impact of a diagnosis reaches far beyond treatment. Patients and families face loss of independence, disrupted work lives and financial uncertainty, often while struggling to get support.
“Personal plans could link them with timely rehabilitation, emotional support and financial and employment advice. The NHS needs the staff, training and funding to deliver this, with local services and specialist teams working together to provide co-ordinated support closer to home.”
Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of cancer care charity Maggie’s, said: “A cancer diagnosis knocks the ground out from under you. People come to Maggie’s centers with the weight of the world on their shoulders – not just worried about the treatment and its physical side effects, but the wider impact of cancer on their work and finances, relationships and much more.
“It is hugely encouraging that the Government has recognized the toll cancer takes on all aspects of a person’s life, and we welcome their commitment to ensuring that everyone diagnosed with cancer receives personalized support covering everything from exercise and employment to mental health and nutrition.”
Health Innovation Minister James Frith said: “A cancer diagnosis should not mean navigating treatment alone, and no one should fall off a cliff edge when their treatment ends.
“That’s why every newly diagnosed cancer patient in England is offered their own personal cancer plan – a comprehensive support package that covers not just the medical treatment they receive, but how their wider physical and mental health needs are addressed, and any advice and help they need with their work and financial situation.
“This is a crucial part of our National Cancer Plan, which will tackle this cruel disease on all fronts – from faster diagnosis, improved treatments and better patient care, to the advanced research and new clinical trials that will help us defeat cancer for good.
“I want to applaud the Express’ tireless campaigning on this issue, which has been crucial in helping to drive real change on behalf of millions of cancer patients across the country.”
