Cancer sufferers could soon receive better treatment and improved prognosis with a ground-breaking service in Greater Manchester’s fight against the disease.
The pioneering system by Manchester Cancer will tackle the areas well below average cancer survival rate.
The area has one of the worst averages in the country, with around 460 people each year succumbing to the illness.
Some of the key reasons for the high number of premature deaths in Greater Manchester include high levels of smoking, bad diet and poor take up of screening programmes.
Adult smokers in Greater Manchester stands at 22.5% compared to 19.9% in the whole of England while bowel cancer screenings are also below the national average, 52% compared to 57%.
This is despite the state of the art facilities that are on offer in the region including The Christie, which is supporting the enterprise.
“Despite having great hospitals and a wealth of cancer research expertise, mortality rates from cancer in Greater Manchester remain stubbornly high,” said Nick Molyneux, a spokesperson for the trust.
“Manchester Cancer brings together the NHS services that treat people with cancer and the two other vital components of integrated cancer care: research into the disease, and the education of healthcare professionals.”
The initiative will be led by Dr David Shackley, a cancer surgeon at Salford Royal.
He and his team have recruited 20 senior doctors and nurses to head up improvements in different areas and look to bring together colleagues from across the region to decide how improvements can be made.
“These clinical groups are vital to the success of Manchester Cancer,” Dr. Shackley said.
“We want them to have the power to bring about real change on the ground, so that we can continue to improve the experience that people have of their cancer care.”
Manchester Cancer was launched last week on May 8, and some of the clinical groups are already liaising with GPs and with those affected by cancer in their work.
Mr Molyneux said: “Manchester Cancer is unique in having the support of the whole healthcare community in Greater Manchester and East Cheshire, who now fund the majority of healthcare.”
All ten NHS hospital trusts in Greater Manchester and East Cheshire have been involved in Manchester Cancer throughout its creation.
Manchester’s universities are also supporting the partnership, as are Manchester Cancer Research Centre and charities like Macmillan Cancer Support.
Macmillan’s Senior Development Manager, Nicola Cook, said: “Manchester Cancer provides a real opportunity for us all to work together to make genuine improvements for people affected by cancer across Greater Manchester and East Cheshire.
“Macmillan is very pleased to be part of it.”
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