1. Greater Manchester Cancer
Health and Wellbeing Events Lindsey Wilby Macmillan Project Manager – Living with and Beyond Cancer
December 2018

2. What are they? (Group) events or programmes which:
Greater Manchester Cancer
What are they?
(Group) events or programmes which:
Provide the right information at the right time
Maximise health and well being: from diagnosis to recovery (or improved palliative experience)
Help to manage the short and long term effect cancer and treatments can often have on lives
Equipping for and supporting self- management

3. Why should we offer them? Benefits to patients
Greater Manchester Cancer
Why should we offer them? Benefits to patients
Group discussions and peer to peer support can allow patients to feel less isolated
Increased confidence in self management and participating in care leading to feeling more in control
Increased awareness of side effects, symptoms and warning signs
Reduced anxiety and improved emotional wellbeing
Knowledge of local services that are available and knowing how to access support whenever needed
More confident in ability to make positive lifestyle change
Better understanding of their ‘new normal’
Reference: Macmillan Cancer Support (2017) Holistic Needs Assessment Care and Support Planning

4. Why should we offer them? Evidence of long-lasting benefits
Greater Manchester Cancer
Why should we offer them? Evidence of long-lasting benefits
A 2016 study found:
84% of patients who attended a H &WB intervention reported significantly improving their diet
57% reported using self help to reduce their stress and anxiety levels
49% felt their close relationships had improved
The study also found that there were statistically and clinically proven improvements in wellbeing measures which lasted up to a year
Reference: Polley et al.,2016: Using a Whole Person Approach to Support People With Cancer: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Service Evaluation. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 15; 4:
…And we therefore have a target for every patient to be offered one

5. What should they include?
Greater Manchester Cancer
What should they include?
Expert advice on health promotion
To minimise risk of recurrence and support healthy living particularly physical activity, nutrition and healthy weight management, smoking cessation.
Support to ensure that individuals have the confidence and skills to manage their condition themselves
For example referral onward to rehabilitation and psychological support services as appropriate and signposting to local support groups, voluntary sector organisations or buddying services.
Information about complementary therapies
How these therapies may help to facilitate wellbeing.
Advice on adjusting to life after treatment
And addressing fears of cancer recurrence.

6. What should they include?
Greater Manchester Cancer
What should they include?
Information on signs and symptoms of recurrence and potential consequences of treatment
All events should clearly convey and reinforce the methods to activate fast-track access back into the system if there are any concerns regarding new symptoms or recurrent disease.
Signposting to financial and benefits advice
Specific issues relevant to the individual’s type of cancer
For example: communication difficulties, dysphagia, colostomy care, prosthetic care, early detection and management of lymphoedema, body image and sexual functioning.
Signposting to work support/vocational rehabilitation
Signposting to services for patients including work support and information that patients and carers can share with their employers.
Management of common symptoms For example fatigue.

7. How should they be delivered?
Greater Manchester Cancer
How should they be delivered?
generic for all long term conditions, including cancer
generic for all cancers
divided by treatment completed and in remission vs. those living with their cancer
across several tumour types (e.g. pelvic cancers)
tumour specific
targeted at patients from one or more Trusts
single events
a series of events/workshops
online – webinars, YouTube clips
a combination of the above

8. Greater Manchester Cancer

9. Living with Secondary Breast Cancer (SBC) programme 10:00-15:30
Greater Manchester Cancer
Living with Secondary Breast Cancer (SBC) programme
10:00-15:30
Speakers in Auditorium
09:30-10:00 Meet and greet, tea and coffee
10am-10:05 Welcome Claire Gaskell
10:05-10:15 What is SBC? A patient’s perspective
10: Red flag symptoms, what do I need to know? Claire Gaskell
10:40-11:00 Diet and SBC Mary Pegington, Research Dietician, Genesis Centre
Current treatment and developments in research Dr Sacha Howell
Open microphone question session
Lunch with stalls in foyer offering information from different service providers
Supportive Care & questions Tracey Coleby Palliative Care CNS

10. Living with Secondary Breast Cancer (SBC) programme (cont.)
Greater Manchester Cancer
Living with Secondary Breast Cancer (SBC) programme (cont.)
Break out session 1
Tea/coffee
Break out session 2
Guided mindfulness/relaxation exercise Summing up and close
Breakout sessions: 45 mins each. Choose 2 prior to event, each breakout session will be delivered twice.
Living with uncertainty
Relationships and communication
Fatigue Management
Keeping Active with Secondary Breast Cancer
Support for carers

11. BUT What is gold standard? What is “good enough”?
Greater Manchester Cancer
BUT
What is gold standard? What is “good enough”?
…A generic, Trust-wide, marketplace based event cannot offer the same depth of content as a bespoke tumour- specific event…but the latter can’t offer access to local services, AND
We don’t have the necessary resources, either financial or human, to deliver this level of intervention, face to face, for every cancer patient in GM.
…And even if we did, we can’t guarantee attendance (even with appointment letters; even more challenging in certain localities/populations)

12. How are you currently delivering HWBE?
Greater Manchester Cancer
How are you currently delivering HWBE?
What would a sustainable offer look like?
Compare and contrast the pros and cons of two different delivery methods
Are there examples of best practice that we can learn from?