Cancer

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs. Cancer sometimes begins in one part of the body before spreading to other areas. This process is known as metastasis.

1 in 2 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. In the UK, the four most common types of cancer are breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and bowel cancer. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, and each is diagnosed and treated in a particular way.

4,100 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Leeds and 56% of cancers are diagnosed at stage one or stage two (as per 2019 data). Leeds is home to a Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), which delivers innovative and practice-changing clinical research that impacts the care and outcomes for cancer patients in the UK and across the world (www.cancerresearchuk.org/our-research-in-leeds).

It’s our ambition that we achieve the best in cancer care for the people of Leeds. We will work with all communities to ensure that everyone affected by cancer has access to the same high-quality care.

The Cancer Population Board brings together partners from across Leeds so that we can tailor better care and support for individuals and their carers, design more joined-up and sustainable health and care services and make better use of public resources to the benefit of people using cancer services.

Outcomes for the cancer population board

Our ambition is that:

• More cancers will be prevented.
• People with cancer in Leeds will be diagnosed earlier.
• People will receive safe and effective cancer treatment.
• People with cancer will receive person-centred care.

These are our identified outcomes. By setting these clear goals, that are focused on how services impact the people they serve, the board is able to better track whether we’re really doing the right thing for the people using these services.

Insight review

We have worked with our partners to review the feedback (insight) we already have about people’s experience of cancer services. This will help us understand what we already know. You can read the report below:

Download the cancer insight report (Microsoft Word version)

Public involvement workshop

We held a public involvement workshop to check the findings of our insight report, review our identified outcomes (as above), and discuss our approach to public involvement on the board.

Notes

Download the notes from the cancer public involvement workshop (Microsoft Word version)

Slides

Download the cancer public involvement workshop slides (PowerPoint)

People’s experiences of cancer services

We always want to hear about your experiences of using services, it helps us know what’s working, and where things could be improved.

There are a number of ways you can tell us about your experiences:

‘How does it feel for me?’ project by Healthwatch Leeds

Get involved in sharing your experiences by video or written testimony. Your feedback will be shared with senior decision-makers in Leeds. See people’s experiences and find out more by visiting:  https://healthwatchleeds.co.uk/our-work/how-does-it-feel-for-me/

Share your story on Care Opinion

Care Opinion is an independent place where you can share your experience of health or care services, and help make them better for everyone. You can share your own story on Care Opinion. Say what was good and what could have been better.

Find out more and tell your story