Involvement in our work, with people affected by cancer

Last year, teams across Cancer Research UK launched a project to raise awareness of ways to stop smoking and encourage people to take action. People affected by cancer played a key role in helping us develop the posters whilst ensuring the tone was sensitive to patients and the wider public.

Cancer Research UK was delighted to introduce the first in-person Children’s and Young People’s Cancer Research Conference as part of our 2023 research event series. This was an opportunity for scientists and researchers from across the UK to share updates about their work to improve how we understand and treat children's cancers. The event featured two guest speakers, who are both on our Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Insights Panel, Sarah and Shauyma.

Cancer Research UK recently launched a report that sets out the immediate measures and long-term commitments the next incoming government can make to improve cancer outcomes in the UK. Our Cancer Insights Panels, Involvement Network members, and those less close to Cancer Research UK were involved in different stages of developing the report.

Cancer Research UK’s mission is to beat cancer, and we recognise and understand the impact of climate change on our mission and how important it is to operate sustainably. When developing our first Environmental Sustainability strategy at CRUK, we involved people affected by cancer in our early stage thinking, to help us understand how important climate change is to the operations and future of our work. Thanks to your help, we have now published our first Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

Cancer Research UK recruited new representatives to join their Patient and Public Involvement Panel supporting research into early detection and prevention of cancer. Since its creation the panel has provided a public voice and perspective to applications for new research proposals. Last year, we decided to refresh and expand the group, to increase representation from underrepresented groups. 

Patient Representative Patrick Mc Guire co-delivered the opening presentation with Senior Patient Involvement Officer, Alison Reeve, at this year's Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMC) held their annual Junior Investigator Network Group (JING) training event in Manchester.

We're proud that people affected by cancer are at the heart of our campaigns. We involved people affected by cancer in our new 'we are' campaign as early as possible in the process, to ensure they could meaningfully influence the look and feel of the TV ads. This included two group meetings, one email consultation with our Policy and Communications Cancer Insights Panel, and a survey with the Online Cancer Insights Panel. Read the positive impact your involved had.

Members of our Patient Involvement Network and team went along to the annual Early Detection of Cancer Conference from 10-12 October in London. The conference is organised by Cancer Research UK in partnership with Canary Centre at Stanford and OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. 

We hosted our first-ever hybrid social event for members of our Cancer Insights Panels at our head office in Stratford, London. It was organised to recognise our panel members' contributions and provide an opportunity for them to meet and connect with each other and staff in person.

Jamaican-born, mother of 3 and grandmother of 5 Bettina is a retired Civil Servant and Florist. She is a member of our Patient Involvement Network and Online Cancer Insights Panel. For Black History Month, we asked Bettina to share her experience of being involved in Cancer Research UK’s work and how she is using her voice to improve awareness of cancer in her community and sharing her experience of cancer as a black woman to help shape our work.

Retired NHS worker Steve is from East Yorkshire. Diagnosed and treated over 30 years ago, he’s a long-term survivor of metastatic testicular seminoma. Steve’s sister had ovarian cancer and went through a similar treatment pathway and sadly passed away in 2017 following a recurrence. Steve joined our panel to use his personal experience of cancer and as a loved one to provide valuable feedback via short, quick-response surveys. He shares why he decided to join.

Cancer Research UK will publish a report by the end of 2023 setting out clear actions to be taken by Government which would lead to significant improvements in cancer research, prevention, and services. Read more about our Manifesto and how we involved people affected by cancer in our evidence and insight gathering.

Musical theatre lover Ellen is a member of our Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Insights Panel and lives in London with her dog Bella. Ellen joined the panel after being diagnosed with leukemia. She wanted to give something back and share her experiences and voice for future projects and research.

The Annual Supporter Update is designed to inspire belief in our ability to bring about a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. In advance of publishing this year’s report the Online Cancer Insight Panel were invited to read an early version of the report and share their feedback.

Sarifa joined our Research & Strategy Cancer Insights Panel after being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 10 years ago. She has lived experience of disability, and English as a second language. She's also a member of the Asian community and with it brings a fresh perspective to our meetings. Find out what motivated her to apply.

Earlier this year we invited people affected by cancer who've struggled with their mental health to attend focus groups to share what impact a cancer diagnosis can have on mental health. This insight helped to shape our new ‘Mental health and cancer’ pages.

We’re proud to announce that along with the Health Research Authority, the National Institute for Health Research, and a host of other organisations, we’ve signed up to a shared commitment to public involvement.

Shaumya, a member of the Children and Young People’s Insights Panel is from Eastbourne but has recently moved to Glasgow to study medicine at university. Here, Shaumya shares her story and tells us how it feels to be the same age as Cancer Research UK!