News
NHS gives cancer patients genetic test to select best treatment
Patients with the cancers will be offered the rapid new test to help decide whether to go ahead with treatment, opt for a lower dose or use a different method of tackling tumours. While most patients undergoing chemotherapy do not suffer sever side effects a small number taking certain drugs called fluoropyrimidines (5-FU and capecitabine) […]
NHS to pilot potentially revolutionary blood test that detects more than 50 cancers
An innovative blood test that may spot more than 50 types of cancer will be piloted by the NHS in a world-leading programme, chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced today. The Galleri blood test, developed by GRAIL, can detect early stage cancers through a simple blood test, and will be piloted with 165,000 patients in […]
Celebs and lockdown heroes urge public to get cancer symptoms checked and attend routine appointments
Famous faces, including TV chefs Gordon Ramsay, Nadiya Hussein, and actress Emma Thompson are backing a major new campaign urging anyone concerned about cancer to get checked and to keep routine appointments, as new research found that even now, nearly half (48 per cent) of the public would delay or not seek medical help at […]
Celebs with cancer back NHS call for people to get symptoms checked
Celebrities with cancer have joined NHS doctors to encourage the public to come forward for vital, life-saving checks. Famous faces backing the move to increase take-up of NHS checks include the Nolan sisters, who have recently opened about their cancer diagnosis and former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull. Although the NHS treated 85,000 people for […]
Chemo doorstep drops help to keep cancer patients safe
Thousands of patients with cancer have had chemotherapy delivered to their doors so that they can more safely receive treatment during the coronavirus pandemic. Up to 10,000 chemo home deliveries were made over three months at the peak of the outbreak, avoiding the need for patients to venture out and risk infection when their immune […]
NHS rolls out ‘COVID-friendly’ cancer treatments
‘COVID-friendly’ cancer treatments that are safer for patients during the pandemic will be expanded and extended through a £160 million initiative, NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced today. The funding will pay for drugs that treat patients without having such a big impact on their immune system or offer other benefits such as fewer […]
Convenient modern cancer treatment for patients during COVID-19 pandemic
Patients are being offered more convenient cancer treatment during the coronavirus pandemic, including chemotherapy buses and the fast track rollout of an innovative and life-saving type of radiotherapy. NHS England has today announced it is accelerating the use of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) which requires fewer doses than standard radiotherapy, cutting the number of hospital […]
NHS warning to seek help for cancer symptoms, as half of public report concerns with getting checked
England’s top cancer doctor has urged people not to hesitate to get checked as new research revealed that nearly half of the public have concerns about seeking help during the coronavirus pandemic. One in 10 people would not contact their GP even if they had a lump or a new mole which did not go […]
NHS strikes deal on first in a new generation of cancer busting drugs
At the same time as managing the most serious global health threat in a century, the NHS has struck a deal which will see hundreds of people a year benefit from a ‘game-changing’ new cancer treatment. The new drug, larotrectinib, will initially be used for children, young people and some adults, and targets tumours according […]
“Potential to eliminate” cervical cancer in England thanks to NHS Long Term Plan
Hundreds of lives will be spared every year in England thanks to a more sensitive cervical screening test rolled out as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. NHS experts said that there is “potential” to eliminate cervical cancer completely thanks to the change in primary test within the NHS Cervical Cancer Screening Programme, combined […]