Macmillan Cancer Support welcomes the Better Cancer Care action plan and in particular the new focus on 'survivorship' and the recognition that more people than ever before are living with and beyond a cancer diagnosis.
Commenting on the action plan, Macmillan's Director for Scotland, Elspeth Atkinson, said:
'Cancer is no longer an automatic death sentence but it shouldn't be a life sentence either – a person's needs do not end when their cancer treatment finishes. Macmillan has been at the forefront of delivering services to help people live with or beyond cancer. We look forward to continuing to work with the Government, the NHS and other partners to ensure that people affected by cancer get the practical, emotional and financial support they need.'
Responding to the announcement that the Government will invest £500,000 in supporting and extending Macmillan's network of benefits advice services and trialing an employability programme to support people with cancer return to work where appropriate Elspeth Atkinson said:
'Poverty is a reality for a significant number of Scots with cancer. This money is a welcome boost and will help Macmillan and our partners to strengthen our support for people living with and beyond cancer across the country.'
Notes to editors:
Macmillan works hard to improve the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support.
Around 30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year and this is expected to rise significantly as our population gets older.
However, due to improvements in diagnosis and treatment, more people are living with the disease than ever before.
Many people living with a cancer diagnosis will also experience emotional problems, side effects such as severe fatigue or find it hard to get back to work, pay the bills or start a family.
For further information please contact Kate Seymour or Michelle Gallacher on 0131 260 3720 / 07801 307032 / kseymour@macmillan.org.uk
Allan Cowie, Senior Macmillan Development Manager, is available for interview at the Beatson after the launch this morning
Case studies are available on request.