Pioneering new ways to help cancer survivors

Researchers at the University of Sheffield, in conjunction with the North Trent Cancer Network, have today (21 May 2009) announced the launch of two pioneering projects to gain more knowledge about the problems faced by cancer survivors, from 16 years to old age. There are at least two million adults living with cancer in the UK. Although advances in medical science are allowing more people to live longer with cancer, it has so far done much less to support them during this variable period of cancer survivorship. Children and young people are also surviving in greater numbers into adult life, but their needs too are also poorly understood, and their long-term follow-up care is not always managed effectively. "When I learnt that my cancer had responded to the chemotherapy, my family and I were delighted. But since then, we´ve learnt that living with the after-effects of cancer – and especially from some of the treatments – can be as bad as having the cancer ever was." ............a breast cancer survivor The ambitious project was launched today (21 May 2009) at the North Trent Cancer Network conference, held at Sheffield Wednesday Football Ground by well-known `celebrity champion´ and the popular BBC Look North TV presenter, Harry Gration. Harry has long supported initiatives for cancer patients and their families in the region, through personal appearances at conferences and helping to get national publicity for a website run from Sheffield which supports teenage children of cancer patients.