GM Cancer Voices Newsletter 13.06.25

Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance sent this bulletin at 13-06-2025 09:32 AM BST

13.06.2025

KEEPING YOU UPDATED

Welcome to our Cancer Voices newsletter. This is our way of keeping you all informed about the latest internal and external opportunities we have for you to be a part of. If you have anything that is specifically related to cancer that you would like for us to share here, please do get in touch.

As always, we are grateful for your contributions to all pathways, projects and programmes in GM Cancer. We love to hear from you, so please do keep in touch by emailing us below gmcancer.voices@nhs.net.

Current opportunities / Latest updates / Patient Spotlight / GM Cancer Alliance Updates / What’s coming up?

Current opportunities

Help shape support for people with metastatic cancer

The Personalised Care team is developing a new support document for people living with metastatic colorectal cancer called ABOUT_MEtastatic cancer support plan. This project is part of the Cancer Experience of Care Improvement Collaborative (CIC), based on the Greater Manchester End of Treatment Summary templates.

We’re now looking for a small group of people to join a working group to help review and refine the draft document. While it’s designed for colorectal patients, we would also welcome input from people with experience of other types of metastatic cancer, as this resource will hopefully become a model for wider use across different tumour groups.

If you are interested or want to find out more, please contact us at gmcancer.voices@nhs.net.

Colorectal Pathway Board member

We are seeking a Patient and/or Carer Representative to join our Colorectal Pathway Board. We are particularly interested to hear from someone who has lived experience or supported someone with Colorectal cancer.

The Pathway Board representative represents the collective views of local patients with cancer, and carers at the Pathway Board meetings by identifying appropriate areas for contribution.

For more information, please get in touch with us.

Help us Improve the End of Treatment Summary document and Health and Wellbeing website landing page

In 2024, we began work to improve the End of Treatment Summary – a key document that supports people as they finish their cancer treatment. We're now building on what we've already learned and looking for further insight into how we can make the document more accessible and meaningful for people across Greater Manchester.

We’re also developing a new ‘landing page’ – a central hub for all our Health and Wellbeing support. We’d really value patient input to help shape the design and accessibility of that webpage, as well as the pages linked to it.

Send us an email to gmcancer.voices@nhs.net and register your interest.

Latest updates

Four people seated around a table in a meeting room with papers and water glasses.

A lady presenting and look at the presentation

Three people in a meeting room seated at a table with water bottles, glasses, papers, and a notebook.

June GM Cancer Voices Catch Up Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us—both in person at Friends Meeting House in Manchester and online—for our June 2025 GM Cancer Voices Community Catch-Up!

We enjoyed hearing from both Sally and David about their involvement in Made by Mortals’ “My Friend Has Cancer” project.

The Personalised Care team shared key updates on the work they are developing on relationships and intimacy after cancer and the Live Well with Cancer project.

Chris from the Business Intelligence team explained how data informs service improvements and how we use data as an Alliance.

We finished with Ali Jones and Oliver providing updates from the Early Diagnosis team. It was a great seeing various patient and carer representatives in person and online.

Our next Catch Up will be on:

Friday 12th September 2025 [in-person]

Monday 15th September 2025 [virtual]

Explore our new Resources page!

We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand-new Resources Page as mentioned at last week's GM Cancer Voices Catch up!

This space brings together a wide range of helpful materials whether you're looking for induction packs, pathway board updates, glossaries, or event information, our new page makes it easier to find what you need to get involved and stay informed.

Visit the page today: Resources page

Updated Volunteer Agreement

We have recently updated our volunteer agreement to provide greater clarity regarding communication. Changes can be found on page 5 of the volunteer agreement and include:

letting us know if your personal circumstances change in a way that affects your involvement and the steps we would take afterwards to offer support and consider the option of taking a break or stepping down
maintaining a professional relationship with all staff and patients/carers when joining a board/group, and adhering to agreed methods and frequency of communication
not expecting or asking for advice on personal medical circumstances from staff members in your capacity as volunteers

Do get in touch if you have any questions or concerns about these changes. Thank you!

Mission remission

A grassroots UK charity dedicated to helping cancer survivors navigate life after treatment. Founded and run by survivors themselves, they share helpful tips to make life after cancer a little less scary. Check out their website to find out more information.

Support for people with non curative cancer

A new support group available for non-curable cancer patients.

The sessions are held at the Gorton Monastery on the first Wednesday of every month 2.30 - 4pm. The next session is on the 2nd of July - for further details and dates please see the flyer.

Patient Spotlight

Mari Isdale joins the Personalised Care Programme Board

Read below on why Mari chose to join the board:

"Hi, my name is Mari and I am very pleased to have joined the Personalised Care Board recently. I have been living with stage 4 bowel cancer for over ten years now. I have had many treatments & procedures at various hospitals across Greater Manchester. I also worked as an NHS doctor for many years.

I joined the Personalised care board because I have always been passionate about improving, not only cancer outcomes in terms of survival, but also in terms of the patient experience and helping patients live well despite cancer.

I am hoping to bring my insights as both a patient and doctor to support quality improvement in areas such as the holistic care elements of a patient’s journey. I am passionate about making things better by advocating and encouraging care that is tailored to each individual patient."

GM Cancer Alliance Updates

Men's Health Week

This year's annual Men’s Health Week, aims to raise awareness about preventable health issues that disproportionately affect men, such as heart disease, mental health problems, and prostate cancer. Our patient representative Stephen Wilson has shared his experience of being treated for prostate cancer as part of Men's Health week. You can read the full article today.