News
‘COVID-friendly’ cancer care at home extended for more patients
Thousands of people with cancer can benefit from ‘COVID friendly’ treatments from home, the NHS announced today. More than 30 different drugs are available to treat patients, offering benefits such as fewer hospital visits or a reduced impact on their immune system. Around 8,000 people have already benefitted from the treatment ‘swaps’ since April helping […]
NHS rolls out capsule cameras to test for cancer
Miniature cameras which patients can swallow to get checked for cancer are being trialled across the NHS. The imaging technology, in a capsule no bigger than a pill, can provide a diagnosis within hours. Known as a colon capsule endoscopy, the cameras are the latest NHS innovation to help patients access cancer checks at home. […]
NHS gives women Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) home testing kits to cut cancer deaths
More than 31,000 women will be offered kits to carry out smear tests in the privacy and convenience of their own homes in a trial, NHS England has announced. The swab tests will be posted to women or given out by a GP to increase take-up of screening for the Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV), which […]
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 […]