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Found 500 results
  1. News Article
    A UK trial has found that a chemotherapy-free approach to treatment may lead to better outcomes for some leukaemia patients, in what scientists are calling a "milestone". The groundbreaking UK-wide trial could reshape the way the most common form of leukaemia in adults is treated. Researchers from Leeds assessed whether two targeted cancer drugs could perform better than standard chemotherapy among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The Flair trial, which took place at 96 cancer centres across the UK, saw 786 people with previously untreated CLL randomly assigned to receive standard chemotherapy; a single targeted drug, ibrutinib, or two targeted drugs taken together, ibrutinib and venetoclax, with treatment guided by personalised blood tests. Researchers found that after five years, 94% of patients who received ibrutinib plus venetoclax were alive with no disease progression. This compares with 79% for those on ibrutinib alone and 58 per cent for those on standard chemotherapy, according to the study, which has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented to the European Haematology Association congress in Milan, Italy. Dr Talha Munir, consultant haematologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, who led the study, said the Flair trial is a “milestone”. “We have shown that a chemotherapy-free approach can be not only more effective but also more tolerable for patients,” she said. Read full story Source: The Independent, 16 June 2025
  2. News Article
    Thousands of patients in England with blood cancer will become the first in the world to be offered a pioneering “Trojan horse” drug that sneaks inside cancer cells and wipes them out. In guidance published on Friday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) gave the green light to belantamab mafodotin, which can halt the advance of multiple myeloma for three times as long as standard treatments. The targeted therapy, which is given as an infusion every three weeks with other cancer drugs, is a special type of antibody drug that targets and attaches to cancer cells. It has been described as a Trojan horse treatment because it works by being taken into a cancer cell and unleashing a high concentration of a lethal molecule to destroy the cell from inside. Prof Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said the drug would be life-changing for patients and their families. “Myeloma is an aggressive type of blood cancer, but we have seen a steady improvement in the outlook for patients over recent years as we have introduced new targeted therapies,” he said. “I am delighted that patients in England will be the first to benefit from this new treatment, which has the potential to keep cancer at bay for years longer, giving people the chance of more precious time with friends and family.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 13 June 2025
  3. Content Article
    More information about "Top picks: 9 resources about improving access to cervical screening"
    NHS England has set a target that cervical cancer will be eliminated in England by 2040. Although progress has been made in detecting and treating cervical cancer, there are still many women who are reluctant to go for cervical screening, or who face barriers to accessing screening. These barriers include perceived discrimination, lack of understanding the risk of cervical cancer and unmet access needs. This contributes to persistent health inequalities amongst particular groups. Patient Safety Learning has pulled together nine useful resources shared on the hub about how to improve access and overcome barriers to cervical screening. 1. Cervical screening, my way: Women's attitudes and solutions to improve uptake of cervical screening This research by Healthwatch explored why some women are hesitant to go for cervical screening. Based on the findings of a survey of more than 2,400 women who were hesitant about screening, it makes recommendations to policymakers on how to improve uptake, including: improvements to the way data about the disability and ethnicity of people attending screening. producing an NHS-branded trauma card for affected women to bring to appointments. ensuring staff are effectively trained on accessibility and adjustments to care. looking at the possibility of home-based self-screening. 2. Exploring the inequalities of women with learning disabilities deciding to attend and then accessing cervical and breast cancer screening, using the Social Ecological Model Women with learning disabilities are less likely to access cervical and breast cancer screening when compared to the general population. In this study, the Social Ecological Model (SEM) was used to examine the inequalities faced by women with learning disabilities in accessing cervical and breast cancer screening in England. The study highlights key barriers to access for women with learning disabilities. 3. “We’re not taken seriously”: Describing the experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women Black women continue to experience disparities in cervical cancer despite targeted efforts. One potential factor affecting screening and prevention is discrimination in medical settings. This US study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities describes experiences of perceived discrimination in medical settings for Black women and explores the impact of this on cervical cancer screening and prevention. The authors suggest that future interventions should address the poor quality of medical encounters that Black women experience. 4. Top tips for healthcare professionals: Cervical screenings This article by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and the My Body Back Project offers tips for healthcare professionals to make cervical cancer screening attendees feel as comfortable as possible during their appointments. Cervical screening can be very daunting for some women, and for those who have experienced sexual violence it can be triggering and cause emotional distress. The article provides tips on communication, making the environment calm and safe, sharing control and building trust with women. 5. The Eve Appeal: What adjustments can you ask for at your cervical screening? The Eve Appeal want to raise awareness of what adaptations women and people with a cervix can ask for during their screening to make the appointment more comfortable. 6. How can reframing women’s health improve outcomes? An interview with Dr Marieke Bigg Dr Marieke Bigg is the author of a 2023 book, This won’t hurt: How medicine fails women. In this interview, Marieke discusses how societal ideas about the female body have restricted the healthcare system’s approach to women’s health and describes the impact this has had on health outcomes. She also highlights areas where the health system is reframing its approach by listening to the needs of women and describes how simple changes, such as allowing women to carry out their own cervical screening at home, can make a big difference. 7. Having a smear test. What is it about? This download A4 Easy Read booklet from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust uses simple language and pictures to talk about smear tests. It explains what a smear test is, has tips for the person having the test and has a list of words they might hear at their appointment. 8. Health Improvement Scotland: Cervical screening standards Published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland in March, the new cervical screening standards include recommendations to ensure women receive accessible letters and information about screening and healthcare professionals are trained to support women to make informed choices. 9. Cervical cancer screening in women with physical disabilities This US study explored how the cervical cancer screening experiences of women with physical disabilities (WWPD) can be improved. Interviews with WWPD indicated that access to self-sampling options would be more comfortable for cervical cancer screening participation. The authors highlight that these findings that can inform the promotion of self-sampling devices for cervical cancer screening. Have your say Are you a healthcare professional who works in women’s health or cancer services? We would love to hear your insights and share resources you have developed. Perhaps you have an experience of cervical screening or cervical cancer that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Comment below (register as a hub member for free first) Get in touch with us directly to share your insights
  4. News Article
    Invitations for cervical screening will be sent out every five years instead of every three for women aged 25-49 in England, if they have a negative test. Research shows they are at very low risk of cervical cancer and can safely wait longer to be screened again, NHS England has said. The roll out of a vaccine to protect against HPV - the virus which causes nearly all cervical cancers - has reduced cases by around a quarter since the early 1990s. Charities said the change was good news for those at low risk because they no longer needed to go for screening as often. Scotland and Wales have already introduced this change, which will start in England from 1 July. Cancer Research UK urged women and people with a cervix not to wait for a screening invitation if they noticed any unusual changes. They are encouraged to go for regular cervical screening between the ages of 25 and 64, external. Read full story Source: BBC News, 10 June 2025 Further reading on the hub: Top picks: Seven resources about improving access to cervical screening
  5. News Article
    A new study has revealed that families of some cancer patients are being denied the opportunity to learn about their potential cancer risk due to inconsistencies in genetic testing. Academics have warned that the absence of adequate testing for Lynch syndrome is leaving some cancer patients unaware of their risk of developing other cancers. Lynch syndrome, a rare hereditary condition, elevates the risk of cancers of the bowel, womb, and ovaries. It arises from a gene mutation affecting DNA error correction during replication, potentially leading to uncontrolled cell growth. NHS guidelines stipulate that patients with bowel or womb cancer should undergo tumour assessments for Lynch syndrome markers. The identification of these markers should prompt a referral for genetic testing, confirming the diagnosis and enabling access to support and guidance regarding cancer risks for both the patients and their families. However, a new study by academics at the University of Edinburgh found not all womb cancer patients are being sent for genetic testing. Researchers said those who were referred faced long waits, resulting in high dropout rates, meaning only 48 per cent of those eligible went on to get the test. Experts from the university said gaps in testing mean some womb cancer patients with Lynch syndrome go undetected. Read full story Source: The Independent, 10 June 2025
  6. News Article
    People with cancer face a “ticking timebomb” of delays in getting diagnosed and treated because the NHS is too short-staffed to provide prompt care, senior doctors have warned. An NHS-wide shortage of radiologists and oncologists means patients are enduring long waits to have surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy and have a consultant review their care. Hold-ups lead to some people’s cancer spreading, which can reduce the chances of their treatment working and increase the risk of death, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) said. NHS cancer services are struggling to keep up with rising demand for tests, such as scans and X-rays, and treatment, created by the growing number of people getting the disease. All radiology bosses surveyed said during 2024 their units could not scan all patients within the NHS’s maximum waiting times because they did not have enough staff. “Delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment will inevitably mean that for some patients their cancer will progress while they wait, making successful treatment more difficult and risking their survival,” said Dr Katharine Halliday, the RCR’s president. The findings are particularly worrying because research has found that a patient’s risk of death can increase by about 10% for each month they have to wait for treatment. Nine out of 10 cancer centre chiefs said patients were delayed starting their treatment last year while seven in 10 said they feared workforce gaps were putting patients’ safety at risk. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 5 June 2025
  7. News Article
    Cancer patients are dying due to misinformation on social media, turning down life-saving treatment in favour of “radical diets” and natural “cures”, oncologists have said. Doctors gathered in Chicago for the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) general meeting said that some patients are delaying the start of their treatment until their cancer becomes metastatic, or incurable. Some patients are choosing alternative treatments such as diets and essential oils instead of life-saving medicines, the doctors said, with patients falling victim to those who “deliberately push unproven treatments or ideas”. The oncologists said that the field was “losing the battle for communication” in the age of misinformation. England’s chief doctor added that the rates of misinformation around cancer seen by the NHS had become “alarmingly high” recently. Richard Simcock, the chief medical officer at the charity Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “I have recently seen two young women who have declined all proven medical treatments for cancer and are instead pursuing unproven and radical diets promoted on social media. “As a doctor, I want to be able to use the best available therapies to help people with cancer. A person is perfectly entitled to decline that therapy but when they do that on the basis of information which is frankly untrue or badly interpreted it makes me very sad. It’s clear that we have work to do to build back trust in evidence-based medicine.” Read full story (paywalled) Source: The Times, 2 June 2025
  8. News Article
    The proportion of people surviving cancer in the UK has doubled since the 1970s amid a “golden age” of progress in diagnosis and treatment, a report says. Half of those diagnosed will now survive for 10 years or more, up from 24%, according to the first study of 50 years of data on cancer mortality and cases. The rate of people dying from cancer has fallen by 23% since the 1970s, from 328 in every 100,000 people to 252. But cancer remains the UK’s biggest killer, the report by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says. Progress has not been equal across all cancers, and women have not reaped as many benefits as men. There have been greater improvements in survival for men since the 1970s but survival remains higher in women. Sustained pressure in the NHS means patients wait too long to get diagnosed and start treatment. In England, only about half of cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, and this proportion has not improved for almost a decade. The CRUK chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: “Over the last 50 years, the proportion of the population dying from cancer has fallen by more than a fifth because of life-saving research into new ways to prevent people developing the disease, detect it earlier when they do and develop new cutting-edge treatments. “Yet cancer remains the UK’s biggest killer, causing around one in four deaths in the UK – far more than other disease groups. For people affected by cancer, this means lost time and fewer precious moments with loved ones. “As this report sets out, it is a time of both optimism and realism. We’re in a golden age for cancer research, with advances in digital, genomics, data science and AI reimagining what’s possible and bringing promise for current and future generations. “However, despite the best efforts of NHS staff, patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment, and cancer survival is improving at its slowest rate in the last 50 years. This is not acceptable.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 3 June 2025
  9. Content Article
    The annual Cancer in the UK report summarises key data across the cancer pathway, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. It looks at where progress is being made and what challenges remain in the UK. Evidence in this report shows that improvements can be made across the cancer pathway – preventing cancers, diagnosing patients earlier and ensuring patients have access to the best treatment options – to attain outcomes that are among the best in the world. The report concludes by setting out the priority actions that are vital to addressing challenges faced by cancer services and lays out how data-led insights can strengthen our ability to beat cancer
  10. News Article
    Pharmacists have warned that "one of the worst" examples of medicine shortages is affecting cancer patients. Creon, a pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (Pert), helps digestion and is required by patients with pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis. It is thought more than 61,000 patients in the UK need the medicine. Some patients are said to be "skipping meals" to ration their medication due to a shortage of it, according to the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said there were "European-wide supply issues" and it was "working closely with industry and the NHS" to mitigate the impact on patients. Without the drug, patients lose weight and strength, which means their ability to cope with treatment such as chemotherapy is reduced. Some experts have predicted shortages continuing until next year. The Department of Health and Social Care has extended a serious shortage protocol for Creon which has already been in place for a year. This indicates concern about shortages of a medicine and allows pharmacists to give patients an alternative - though they argue other drugs are also in short supply. A spokesperson for the department said the "European-wide supply issues" were caused by manufacturing supply constraints. Read full story Source: BBC News, 2 June 2025 Related reading on the hub: Medication supply issues: A pharmacist’s perspective Medicines shortages: minimising the impact on patients
  11. News Article
    Thousands of cancer patients in England are to benefit from a DNA blood test that saves lives by fast-tracking them on to personalised treatments. In a world-first, the NHS will offer patients with lung and breast cancer – two of the most common forms of the disease – a liquid biopsy that detects tiny fragments of tumour DNA. Rapid results from the groundbreaking test mean patients can immediately be offered drugs and treatments specifically tailored to the genetic profile of their disease, significantly increasing their survival chances and paving the way for a new era of precision medicine. Read full article Source: The Guardian, 29 May 2025
  12. News Article
    Trusts failing to meet cancer standards may be encouraged to use a new tool on the federated data platform, HSJ understands. NHS England today announced the launch of the Cancer 360 tool on the FDP, which it says will help clinicians to “identify and address delays immediately” in cancer treatment pathways. In a media briefing attended by HSJ, NHSE said no trust would be “forced” to take up the tool. It said there would be “no questions asked” if another system was already in place and the organisation was meeting performance targets, such as the faster diagnosis or 62-day referral-to-treatment standards. However, there “would be a conversation” about the need to use Cancer 360 if a trust had another system in place and was not meeting standards, officials confirmed. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 4 May 2025
  13. News Article
    Male health workers should be allowed to perform breast screening examinations to help relieve staff shortages, say experts. X-rays called mammograms are offered to women between the age of 50 and 71 every three years to check for signs of cancer, but can currently only be performed by female staff. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has called for a change in policy due to "critical" staff shortages among radiographers who specialise in this area. Sally Reed, 67, who had two mastectomies after mammograms revealed breast cancer, told the BBC that "if something can save your life you should go for it" - whether it's administered by a woman or man. But Sally also admits women who already don't want to go for breast screening "would definitely be turned off by a man". According to radiographers, the vacancy rate among mammographers who specialise in breast exams is 17.5%. Changes to staffing were being discussed at the annual SoR conference, with discussions also taking place over whether transgender men should be included in the NHS breast screening programme. Read full story Source: BBC News, 29 April 2025
  14. Content Article
    Published by Healthcare Improvement Scotland in March, the new cervical screening standards include recommendations to ensure women receive accessible letters and information about screening and healthcare professionals are trained to support women to make informed choices. To support women to make informed decisions about cervical screening, information should be provided in a format and language that suits their needs. Support should be provided to enable informed decisions with opportunities for questions. Care should be compassionate, trauma informed, understanding and non-judgemental. Women should always be respected and supported in their choices and decisions. Further reading on the hub Top picks: Seven resources about improving access to cervical screening
  15. News Article
    British cancer patients are being denied life-saving drugs and trials of revolutionary treatments are being derailed by the red tape and extra costs brought on by Brexit, a leaked report warns. Soaring numbers are being diagnosed with the disease amid a growing and ageing population, improved diagnosis initiatives and wider public awareness – making global collaborations to find new medicines essential. But five years after the UK’s exit from the EU, the most comprehensive analysis of its kind concludes that while patients across Europe are benefiting from a golden age of pioneering research and novel treatments, Britons with cancer have “lost out” thanks to rising prices and red tape. Brexit has “damaged the practical ability” of doctors to offer NHS patients life-saving new drugs via international clinical trials, according to the 54-page report obtained by the Guardian. In some cases, the cost of importing new cancer drugs for Britons has nearly quadrupled as a result of post-Brexit red tape. Some trials have had shipping costs alone increase to 10 times since Brexit. The extra rules and costs have had a “significant negative impact” on UK cancer research, creating “new barriers” that are “holding back life-saving research” for Britons, the report says. In some cases, the impact has been devastating. Children are among the NHS cancer patients whose tumours have returned or treatment has stopped working, leaving them in limbo and denied drugs that could extend or save their lives, senior doctors told the Guardian. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 20 April 2025
  16. News Article
    A North East trust has begun a full review of its breast cancer services after finding unexplained variation in its surgical practices. County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust said feedback from national audits and external reviews suggested its approach to surgery may differ from that seen elsewhere in the NHS. In a statement, CDDFT said the audit findings did not necessarily mean breast cancer surgery carried out at the trust was unsafe, however, “we felt it was important to take a closer look to ensure we are delivering the highest quality care”. The trust said it does not yet know how many patients would see their care covered by the review, and refused to say what time period it would cover. The review includes input from internal teams and external experts, including a review by the Royal College of Surgeons. The trust has also commissioned an external review of governance to ensure a “fair, balanced, and independent perspective”. A new clinical lead has been appointed for the service, and two new consultants hired to address “capacity challenges”. Other steps include strengthening the role played by multidisciplinary teams through stronger coordination and clinical governance, as well as “maintaining close oversight at senior clinical and executive levels”. Read full story (paywalled) Source: HSJ, 17 April 2025
  17. Content Article
    This qualitative study looked at whether oncologists should ask children with cancer and their parents about their communication preferences before telling them about their prognosis. The results suggest that patients, parents and oncologists recommend asking patient and parent communication preferences in advance. Research participants provided advice for achieving this goal, relating to the questions that should be asked, giving multiple options and considering delivery and tone.
  18. Content Article
    Opioid-responsive cancer pain is a term used to describe cancer pain that can be effectively managed with opioid painkiller medications. This review aimed to explore a paradigm shift in the definition of opioid-responsive cancer pain. The authors argue that looking at the apparently unique properties of opioid-responsive cancer pain allows better understanding of the process by which acute (short term) pain may or may not transition into chronic (long term) pain.
  19. News Article
    Cancer care in the UK is at a “critical breaking point,” several experts have warned, calling for radical action to tackle deepening financial pressures. The group says that a National Cancer Director with a dedicated office should be introduced to take a data-driven approach to improving cancer care systems in the UK. Writing for The Lancet Oncology, the group of authors criticises the previous Conservative government for “14 years of gross mismanagement.” Responding, Labour says it is determined to drive down waiting times for cancer patients, pointing to its upcoming National Cancer Plan to improve the current care system. The comment article highlights several policy recommendations which the authors state will improve survival and quality of life for people with cancer. The authors warn that the “greatest risk lies in reactive, short-term, ill-informed decision-making” by the Government, which they state could further reduce UK cancer survival rates, deepen health inequalities and escalate inefficiencies. Read full story Source: The Independent, 15 April 2025
  20. News Article
    Patients with an advanced type of skin melanoma in England will be given fast-track access to a “revolutionary” new cancer vaccine as part of an NHS trial. The vaccine, known as iSCIB1+ (ImmunoBody), helps the immune system recognise cancer cells and therefore better respond to immunotherapy treatment. The trial is part of the expansion of NHS England’s Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad (CVLP), a programme to fast-track eligible patients to studies developing vaccines at their nearest participating hospital. The CVLP has already helped thousands of NHS patients access trials of a personalised vaccine against bowel cancer, with more than 350 people fast-tracked for consideration, and has now expanded to include a trial for melanoma. It aims to provide 10,000 patients in England with personalised cancer treatments in the UK by 2030. Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS national cancer director, said: “Skin cancer can have a devastating impact and we know that cancer vaccines have the potential to revolutionise cancer care for patients in this country and across the world – and to save more lives. “It’s incredibly exciting that the NHS is expanding its world-leading programme so more patients with different types of cancer could benefit from the development of new vaccines that could stop their cancer coming back. “We want to ensure as many eligible NHS patients as possible have access to these vital trials, which is why we are working with a range of industry partners as more studies get up and running to ensure patients are fast-tracked to a vaccine that could transform lives.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 14 April 2025
  21. Content Article
    More information about "13 top picks: Men's health"
    At Patient Safety Learning we believe that sharing insights and learning is vital to improving outcomes and reducing harm. That’s why we created the hub; providing a space for people to come together and share their experiences, resources and good practice examples. We have collated 12 resources relating to men's health, including information about male cancers, men's mental health, how to engage men earlier and insights around the impact of traditional ideas of masculinity on patient safety. *Trigger warning: some of the content below focuses on suicide. 1 Men's Health Strategy for England: call for evidence This call for evidence will inform the development of a Men’s Health Strategy for England. It seeks the views of the public, as well as health and social care professionals, academics, employers and stakeholder organisations. It's particularly interested in the lived experience of all those directly affected by men’s health issues. 2 Men’s health: The lives of men in our communities Men in England are facing “a silent health crisis”, dying nearly four years earlier than women, while suffering disproportionately higher rates of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a report by the Local Government Association. They are urging the Government to implement a men's health strategy similar to the women's health strategy of 2022. It wants men’s health to be recognised as “a national concern”. 3 Overcoming the barriers to engaging with prostate cancer Orchid is the UK’s leading charity for those affected by male cancer. In this interview, we speak to Ali Orhan, Chief Executive and Director of their Overcoming the Barriers to Engaging with Prostate Cancer project. Ali tells us how they are working alongside a network of volunteer community champions to improve awareness, support better outcomes and reduce health inequalities. 4 Prostate Cancer UK: risk checker Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, but most men with early prostate cancer don’t have symptoms. Use this risk checker to find out what you should do. 5 Samaritans Handbook: Engaging men earlier: a guide to service design This handbook from the Samaritans provides a set of principles upon which wellbeing initiatives for men should be based, drawn from what men have said is important to them. By following these principles, wellbeing initiatives are more likely to be effective for, and appeal to, men going through tough times before reaching crisis point. 6 Shifting the dial on mental health support for young black men In this blog, Kadra Abdinasir talks about how mental health services have failed to engage with young black men, and describes how services need to change to overcome the issue. She argues that delivering effective mental health support for young black men requires a move away from a crisis-driven response, to investment in system-driven, community-based projects. Kadra looks at learning from Shifting the Dial, a three-year programme recently piloted in Birmingham as a response to the growing and unmet needs of young black men aged 16 to 25. 7 Infopool prostate cancer patient resource This patient resource created by Prostate Cancer Research aims to equip patients and the public with information about prostate cancer. It contains information on testing and diagnosis, treatment choices, living with side effects, and clinical trials. 8 Men's Health - How can we take action? Here are our top 5 things to know and do Top tips for men on keeping healthy and advice on prostate and testicular cancer. 9 Prostate Cancer UK: Best practice pathway Developed to support healthcare professionals at the front line of prostate cancer diagnosis and care, Prostate Cancer UK's Best Practice Pathway uses easy to follow flowcharts to guide healthcare professionals deliver best practice diagnosis, treatment and support. 10 HSSIB report: Management of acute onset testicular pain This investigation reviewed the diagnostic and treatment pathway for testicular torsion. There was a predominant focus on delays and the human factors associated with the pathway. The investigation identified system-wide recommendations designed to prevent delays to the identification and treatment of testicular torsion happening in the future. 11 Prostate cancer: getting information and support This leaflet helps signpost people to support and information about prostate cancer, both nationally and regionally. 12 Why harmful gender stereotypes surrounding men’s approaches towards their feelings need challenging This blog explores men's mental health – how men are reluctant to seek support when they are struggling, why the suicide rate is so high, what initiatives exist to encourage men to seek help and what more could be done. 13 King's Fund blog: Inequalities in men’s health: why are they not being addressed? Almost half of England’s population is male, yet inequalities in men’s health seldom get specific attention. The women’s health strategy for England shone a light on the health care needs of girls and women through their life course, highlighting areas specific to their health – such as maternity and the menopause – and inequalities in health outcomes. But the wide, and widening, health inequalities experienced by men also require focus. Share your insights and experiences Have you, or a loved one, experienced any of the issues raised in this blog? Would you like to share your insights to help improve outcomes in men's health? Perhaps you work in men's health and can share some of the barriers to safe care and what you believe needs to change to improve outcomes. You can share your thoughts in the comments below (sign up first for free) or email our team at [email protected].
  22. News Article
    A new type of drug for one of the most common kinds of advanced breast cancer is now available on the NHS in England. Some 3,000 women a year could benefit from capivasertib after a clinical trial showed it can slow progression of the disease, and shrink tumours in a quarter of people. In trials, in 708 women, when combined with hormone therapy, the drug doubled the time the cancer took to grow, from 3.6 months to 7.3 months. It also shrank tumours in 23% of patients. The drug has been given the green light for NHS funding by England's drug assessment body. It's one of a range of treatment options available to people whose cancer has spread and is no longer curable. Read full story Source: BBC News, 11 April 2025
  23. News Article
    The family of a mother who died from cervical cancer after twice being wrongly told she had negative results have been awarded undisclosed damages. The misreporting of Louise Gleadell's cervical screening results was admitted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust following her death aged 38 in March 2018. An internal review in 2017 found the samples, taken four years apart, were not good enough to produce reliable results but neither Ms Gleadell - a mum to three boys - nor her relatives were told about the "inadequate" samples while she was still alive. Her family have now been given an undisclosed payout, with the trust apologising for its mistakes that had "devastating consequences". Ms Gleadell, from Cossington in Leicestershire, was diagnosed with cervical cancer two years prior to her death. It was, by that stage, too late to have surgery. Two cervical screening tests, carried out in 2008 and 2012, were misreported to her as negative. It meant that over a four-year period, she had been given false reassurance about her health when she was developing cervical cancer, and the opportunity to treat pre-cancerous cells passed. Ms Gleadell's sisters, Laura and Clare Gleadell, say their grief has been compounded by knowing that their sister's death was avoidable. Laura, 43, said: "Her death was preventable and that for us is ultimately really hard. "It would not have developed into cancer had she been recalled in either 2008 or 2012. "If she had had treatment for cell abnormalities before it even developed into cancer, she would not have died." Read full story Source: BBC News, 6 April 2025
  24. News Article
    A troubled NHS trust has apologised to the family of a man who died after a series of potentially fatal delays to treat a tumour, in a case that is being investigated by police as possible corporate manslaughter. Richard Harris, 71, died last July after a series of errors in the neurosurgery department at the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton, which is part of University Hospitals Sussex NHS foundation trust (UHSussex). The trust admitted that Harris was “lost to follow-up” when the hospital repeatedly failed to monitor a tumour in his nervous system, or operate on it, as doctors recommended. An internal review of Harris’s care found that doctors failed to arrange a routine MRI scan for him when he was first urgently referred to neurosurgery in 2017. Harris, who was fit and a regular swimmer, only received a scan when he contacted the department again in 2019. The scan picked up a benign schwannoma tumour, which a multidisciplinary team concluded would require regular monitoring, every six months. They also said “surgical intervention should be advised”, the review found. But no surgery was arranged. And the required follow-up scans were postponed and cancelled at a time when internal whistleblowers expressed alarm about high cancellation rates, and repeated and allegedly dangerous failures to follow up patients under the trust’s care. Eventually Harris was referred to neurosurgery early last year suffering with acute pain. He had to wait weeks to be seen, despite repeatedly pleading with his consultant in emails complaining of “red-hot poker pain” that was “scaring me to death”. There were yet further delays in arranging MRI scans, the review found. Months later, the tumour was assessed to be cancerous and inoperable. Harris was discharged to hospice care and died a few weeks later. Sussex police have confirmed to Harris’s family that his death is being investigated as possible corporate manslaughter, as part of its expanding Operation Bramber investigation. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 1 April 2025
  25. News Article
    Tens of thousands of doctors across India are being trained to promote the HPV vaccine, in a push to eliminate cervical cancer in the country. They will check with mothers attending medical appointments that they intend to vaccinate their daughters, and visit schools and community centres armed with facts and slideshows to counter vaccine disinformation. One in five cervical cancer cases worldwide occur in India – and the overwhelming majority of those are caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV vaccination has become routine practice in many countries and has been available in India privately since 2008, but with low take-up. Sutapa Biswas, co-founder of the Cancer Foundation of India, said imported vaccines were expensive and people were reluctant to spend money on prevention. Misinformation surrounding deaths during, but unrelated to, an HPV vaccine trial in the country had left it with “baggage”, she said. However, India has recently started manufacturing its own cervical cancer vaccine, and the government is expected to make it part of the national vaccination programme later this year or early next year. Last year about 11,000 members of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (Fogsi) underwent virtual training. About 100 of those trainees have now become the National HPV Faculty and will each train 500 general physicians from the Indian Medical Association over the next six months. The idea, Biswas said, “is to build confidence”. Training includes practical information on dosages, details of the World Health Organization’s push to eliminate cervical cancer, and advice on how to answer common questions. The implementation of India’s cervical screening programme had been sluggish, she said. Most cancers are diagnosed late, and most people’s experiences of the disease relate to death. Many non-specialist doctors “didn’t even know that a cancer could be eliminated and vaccination could be such a gamechanger”, Biswas said. Read full story Source: The Guardian, 1 April 2025

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