The results of the National Cancer Patient Experience (NCPE) 2015 survey were published this morning. It's an important insight into what people with cancer around the UK think about their care and treatment. For the last three years - and thanks to the tenacity of colleagues on the National Cancer Research Institute Consumers Liaison Group (NCRI CLG) … Continue reading National cancer patient survey raises more questions about patient access to research
cancer
Is it time to give patients the opportunity to self-refer themselves to take part in NHS research?
Harpal Kumar, the Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, yesterday posted a blog about the new task force he is leading for NHS England on cancer diagnosis. The aim of the task force is to enable people to get an earlier and speedier diagnosis of their tumour in the future. But it will also be looking at treatment and … Continue reading Is it time to give patients the opportunity to self-refer themselves to take part in NHS research?
Medical research may appear a pantomime at times but all good pantos hold a lesson or two
First his head came into view, followed soon after by his tail..... On Boxing Day Cancer Research UK issued figures suggesting that almost 600,000 deaths from cancer between 2007 and 2011 could have been prevented by healthier lifestyles. Then, on New Year's Day, we were told that scientists at John Hopkins in University in the … Continue reading Medical research may appear a pantomime at times but all good pantos hold a lesson or two
Cancer research ‘sales’ to patients remain flat
Today sees the annual Cancer Patient Experience Survey published. For the third year running it looks at the extent to which people with cancer are being told about the opportunity to take part in research. Also, how many take up that opportunity. National data is published and then statistics are provided by NHS Trust and … Continue reading Cancer research ‘sales’ to patients remain flat
Cancer patient experience survey results show variations in access to clinical trials and research
The results of the annual cancer patient experience survey are out today. For those of us committed to improving patient access to clinical trials and other research, this year's report is particularly interesting. As far as I know, this is the first year that the survey asked patients whether taking part in research had been discussed … Continue reading Cancer patient experience survey results show variations in access to clinical trials and research
Patients helping cancer research go stratospheric for the benefit of others
Cancer Research UK's patient recruitment drive which has just got going as part of its Stratified Medicine Programme is getting a lot of attention today. One patient, Wendy, is quoted in the news material as saying: 'Even though I won't benefit from that research, it's comforting to think that my experience with cancer will be … Continue reading Patients helping cancer research go stratospheric for the benefit of others
International leaders in cancer research in conversation and a new Channel 4 video on clinical trials
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has a rather nifty web-page at the moment with various leading lights in cancer research talking about cancer therapeutics. They include Bob Brown, chair, translational oncology, Imperial College London. And hear is a rather nifty video explaining drug trials done by Channel 4. Just click on the picture … Continue reading International leaders in cancer research in conversation and a new Channel 4 video on clinical trials
Cancer Research UK does not have all the answers..and that’s an invitation to the rest of us
I see that Cancer Research UK last week put out a press statement about the need for the UK to have strategic vision for medical research. You can find further details on their blog and they also issued a document entitled 'Building the Right Environment for Medical Research.' Thoughtfully the announcement and document have been … Continue reading Cancer Research UK does not have all the answers..and that’s an invitation to the rest of us
From I Claudius to iLansley…phone apps in the new NHS
The summer break has clearly done the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, a world of good. From beating a lone path as the libertarian Claudius in the face of a centralised health service, he has resurfaced this week as the man for all seasons to launch a competition for the best ideas for … Continue reading From I Claudius to iLansley…phone apps in the new NHS
Cancer prevention message from a credible source
I am sure some of you may have seen or heard this story from this morning. The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) have rightly used statistics showing the higher incidence of cancer among women in Britain compared to other EU countries, to do a bit of a wake-up call to us all about what we … Continue reading Cancer prevention message from a credible source
Social media leaving doctors and researchers…virtually clinic bound
I suspect this has been picked-up by someone else but an article in the US publication 'Information Week' from 11th July this year provides further data on the rise of social media (twitter, blogs, Facebook etc) as a tool by which patients are seeking and sharing health information. It actually looks at a report by … Continue reading Social media leaving doctors and researchers…virtually clinic bound
Rising cancer rates and the NHS reforms…plus NIHR and ‘impact’
I suspect you have seen today's news bulletins covering Macmillan Cancer Support's report predicting a significant rise in the number of people who will get cancer. To quote the opening lines of their statement today: Cancer rates are increasing at such a rate that research shows 42% of people who die in this country will … Continue reading Rising cancer rates and the NHS reforms…plus NIHR and ‘impact’
Why are EU patients having to wait so long for cancer medicines?
So I saw this on the Research America blog and I thought it worth posting. The Health Affairs article referred too can be found here. It is unsurprising but nonetheless disappointing that the article does not go into detail about the reasons for the slower adoption in Europe. There will be some geographic-specific and also … Continue reading Why are EU patients having to wait so long for cancer medicines?
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 