Major cancer conference to be held in Manchester

University of Manchester researchers aiming to understand the experience of living with cancer will be among those speaking at a major meeting in Manchester this week. Members of the national Cancer Experiences Collaborative (CECo) - a five-year partnership between researchers at the Universities of Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and Southampton - are holding their national conference on Tuesday and Wednesday (April 5 and 6). Also attending the event will be Professor Sir Mike Richards, the government's Cancer Tsar. "As well as research to find the cure for cancer there are scientists who look at the human side of having cancer, with the aim of understanding what patients go through, making patients more comfortable and supporting them and their families during this difficult and worrying time,” said Professor Chris Todd, CECo Methodology Theme Leader from The University of Manchester. University of Manchester researchers lead the Methodology Research Theme and the Capacity Building Theme within CECo and will be presenting their research at the meeting. Professor Todd will be presenting his research on the priorities for prognostication research. He said: "Prognostication - the prediction of the course of a disease - is important for various reasons, such as guiding treatment decisions, determining eligibility for benefits, and helping patients organise their affairs at the end of life.