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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.
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The Kenya UK Breast Cancer Alliance project
We are currently seeking 1–2 patient representatives to share your experiences of care in the UK, we are particularly looking for those with an East African background or connections to East Africa, or someone from an ethnic minority background that is interested in global work to contribute their perspectives and experiences.
The Kenya UK Breast Cancer Alliance project is an international collaboration between the UK and Kenya focused on improving early diagnosis and patient care through shared learning and co-designed educational activities. Your involvement will help ensure that patient voices play a central role in shaping the project’s discussions, priorities, and outcomes. Meetings will be once a month, 5-7pm.
Please get in touch if you are interested.
Personalised Care: Core Interventions Delivery Group Member
We are seeking a patient and/or carer representative to sit on our quarterly delivery group for Core Interventions. In line with the NHS long term plan, all patients diagnosed with cancer should receive access to the below interventions where appropriate.
Core interventions include:
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Holistic Needs Assessments and Personalised Care and Support Plans
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End of Treatment Summaries
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Personalised Stratified Follow-Up
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Cancer Care Reviews
We need your help to support he programme’s aim to champion the importance of meaningful, high quality personalised care at every step of a patient’s cancer experience and to ensure that every person diagnosed with cancer in GM has access to quality personalised care interventions at every contact with their medical team and beyond.
Please get in touch if you’d be interested in taking part.
Enhanced Communication Skills AI Scenario Development
We are looking for two patient and/or carer representatives to join a new project group that will guide the development of AI simulation training aimed at improving communication skills across the workforce.
If you would like to get involved there are two groups, you can get involved in:
- Enhanced group – you will support with developing an AI scenario on how they would want a junior staff member to go about escalating a concern that has come about from a patient's holistic needs assessment.
- Mental health group – if you have a lived experience of a mental health challenge or supporting family or friends, we would love your support with developing an AI scenario of a patient with a cancer diagnosis and mental health diagnosis.
Your perspective and lived experience will be invaluable in shaping realistic scenarios, ensuring the training reflects what matters most to patients and carers.
The group will meet periodically to review draft content, share feedback, and collectively design elements of the training modules. If you are interested in taking part, please submit an expression of interest detailing why you are interested in this project.
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In memory of Jo Taylor
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jo Taylor, our colleague and friend. As a patient representative with the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, Jo gave a powerful voice to those living with breast cancer, shaping strategy, programmes, and cancer care with compassion and insight. She also founded ABC Diagnosis and METUPUK, supporting patients and raising national awareness of metastatic breast cancer.
Jo’s energy, dedication, and warmth touched everyone she met — colleagues, clinicians, and patients alike. Her legacy will continue to guide and inspire us all.
Claire O’Rourke, Managing Director at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, said:
“Jo was an exceptional lady, relentless in her pursuit to change policies and improve lives. I have no doubt she has saved the lives of many women with breast cancer as a result of her work.”
Our thoughts are with Jo’s family and friends at this time.
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Call for Carers!
This month we'll be running a project which will shine a light on the amazing work of carers. We'll be working with Made by Mortals, who helped us to create the audio story 'My Friend Has Cancer', to capture the essence of what it means to care for someone with cancer and hear how carers can be better supported.
We'll be spending the day on Tuesday 18 November at Friends Meeting House creating a character and a story to go alongside them, which will allow people to better understand what carers do for their loved ones. We'll do this through discussion as a group, facilitated by Made by Mortals. We'll then meet again on Tuesday 9 December to record the story.
You don't need drama or story telling experience! Made by Mortals are great to work with and will help you to make sure your story is captured. The recording will just be of your voice and you won't need to show your face or be on camera for this. Here is a link to 'My Friend Has Cancer' so you can get a feel for the project.
If you're currently caring for someone, or have previously cared for someone, with cancer and would like to get involved please get in touch on gmcancer.voices@nhs.net. If you're a patient please also feel free to pass this opportunity on to your network or those that cared for you such as a partner, parent or friend and we'd love to have them involved!
The audio story will be released next year as part of World Cancer Day 2026.
GM Cancer Voices Catch Up
We have our quarterly GM Cancer Voices Catch Up coming up this December:
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Face to Face: Tuesday 9 December, 1-3:30pm at Friends Meeting House, Manchester, M2 5NS
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Virtual: Thursday 11 December, 11am-1pm
If any patient or carer representative would like to present at the cancer voices catch up, or run a festive themed activity please let us know!
To register your attendance please do so through our online registration form.
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Stuart Kohler shares his motivation for joining the Programme Assurance Group as a patient and carer representative
"The impact of my wife's diagnosis of Cancer had a profound impact on not just her of course, but all the family. I am sure that will be the same for everybody!
After successful surgery my wife retired in 2024, and I retired a short time later, in June this year. We had no plans to retire until this "life changing" event.
I wanted to offer "something back", and after being told of the GM Cancer Alliance Programme Assurance Group, I enquired how I might be able to get involved, having spent a lifetime attending Programme Project and Operational Board Meetings in my commercial role in the private sector, albeit that many of my clients were public sector organisations.
Once on the Cancer pathway, our patient/carer experience was excellent and the healthcare professionals with whom we liaised were wonderful. However, that is not to say that the patient/carer experience could not be enhanced. I hope that by being an active volunteer member of this group, I may be able to contribute to that in some small way."
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A former teacher from Greater Manchester is urging people not to ignore the signs of persistent heartburn
One of our patient representatives David Jones-Stanley, has written a book about his experience of being diagnosed with stage 3 food pipe (oesophageal) cancer in October 2021.
David shares in a recent article what inspired him to write his book:
"The idea for my book, called GULP, was born out of those dark days. When I first sat in a support group after treatment, I recognised the look in newly diagnosed patients’ eyes. It was fear, confusion, vulnerability. It was the same look I had carried.
I realised I couldn’t change what had happened to me, but I could use it. I wanted to write something real, not a polished “inspirational” story that skips over the messy, absurd, or painful parts. Cancer isn’t neat. It’s awkward conversations, endless waiting rooms, and sometimes laughing with people at completely inappropriate moments just to stay sane.
GULP is my way of offering companionship to others. If even one person feels less alone after reading it, then every word was worth it."
David’s new book Gulp is out and is available to order on Amazon in paperback or kindle.
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GM Cancer Alliance updates |
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Claire O’Rourke to lead both Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
The Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network comes under a single leadership structure.
Claire O’Rourke, Managing Director for the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, will undertake the joint leadership role to work across both organisations with support from Miss Susi Penney, Medical Director and Alison Armstrong, Associate Director at the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance. Read the full article on our website.
This Van Can… help you get Cancer Clever
The latest “This Van Can” mobile roadshow has launched and is back on the road. The van is intended to help people "get cancer clever" by focussing on the generic signs and symptoms of cancer as well as busting some cancer myths.
The van will travel across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester for the next seven months. On board, specially trained staff will be available for free, friendly conversations about spotting the early signs of cancer.
Let us know of any community organisations in your area that we can reach out to where we can offer to run some engagement sessions, and support their service users to become educated on the signs and symptoms of cancer.
If you would like to pop down and visit the van when it comes to your area all dates and locations are on our website.
We will be in Wigan next week Thursday 13 November, 1-3pm, where we will take a few photographs to celebrate the launch of the van join us if you can.
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Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance Metastatic Strategy Launch
Many of you will be aware that we have recently developed a plan to improve metastatic cancer care, and make changes to services for patients and their loved ones impacted by this disease.
We will be sharing more about our plans, and the importance of this work, at our launch event in the evening of 26th November, in Manchester city centre. Patients will be front and centre of this event – from Paul King sharing his experience, to videos featuring patients sharing their challenges, and opportunities to network with senior leaders within the NHS in Greater Manchester. Loved ones also welcome!
You can register here through the academy. You will have to create an account if you don’t already have one. Thank you to those of you who have already registered, we look forward to seeing you there.
New campaign dispels fears around breast cancer
A new series of mini films – designed to help dispel fears about breast cancer and breast cancer screening – has been launched to support Black and South Asian women.
Community leaders hope the four videos will increase the number of people from ethnic minorities who attend breast cancer screening.
They also want to encourage more people with potential symptoms of breast cancer – like a lump – to go to their GP to get checked out.
Currently women from ethnic minorities are less likely to attend breast cancer screening and take longer to go to their GP with symptoms of breast cancer.
Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – part of the NHS – has worked with researchers from The University of Manchester as well as charities Prevent Breast Cancer, the Caribbean and African Health Network and Fatima Women’s Association to produce the series, which is available to watch on YouTube. To read the full article please visit our website.
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Meet and Greet session
Monday 10 November 2025, 12 - 1pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Programme Assurance Group
Tuesday 11 November 2025, 10am - 12pm - In person at The Christie
Meet and Greet session
Wednesday 12 November 2025, 5 - 6pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Virtual Volunteer training: Assertiveness - speaking up for what matters
Thursday 13 November 2025, 10am - 12pm - Virtual on Zoom
This Van Can photography
Thursday 13 November 2025, 1 - 3pm - Asda, Robin Retail Park
GM Cancer Board
Monday 17 November 2025, 2 - 4pm - The Nest, 6 Claverton Road, M23 9FT
Early Diagnosis Programme Board
Wednesday 18 November 2025, 11am - 1pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
GM Cancer Voices Monthly Drop in
Wednesday 19 November 2025, 12 - 12:45pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Urology Pathway Board
Monday 24 November 2025, 2 - 4pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Colorectal Small Community
Tuesday 25 November 2025, 1 - 2:30pm - The Paterson Building, Wilmslow Road M20 4BX
Haem Small Community
Thursday 27 November 2025, 10:30- 11:30am - Virtual Microsoft Teams
UoM event - reps sharing their cancer experience
Thursday 27 November 2025, 10:45am - 1:45pm -The University of Manchester
Gynae Pathway Board
Friday 28 November 2025, 2 - 4pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
OG Small Community
Tuesday 2 December 2025, 11am- 12pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Colorectal Pathway Board
Tuesday 2 December 2025, 2 - 4pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Personalised Care: Core Interventions Delivery Group
Tuesday 2 December 2025, 2-4pm - Virtual Microsoft Teams
Volunteer training: Leading and influencing - finding your voice
Wednesday 3 December 2025, 10am - 12:30pm - In person at the Paterson Building
OG Pathway Board
Thursday 4 December 2025, 1:30 - 3:30pm - Virtual Microsoft Team
If you are a healthcare professional and have an opportunity you’d like to advertise, please get in touch at gmcancer.voices@nhs.net
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