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Transforming care for cancer survivors

Summary of the impact

There are currently 2 million cancer survivors in the UK. This is predicted to become 6 million by 2050 — by which time more than 50% of the UK population are expected to have experienced a cancer diagnosis. Our research and expertise have been central to the creation of the Department of Health's National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (NCSI), and framing policy more widely to respond to this challenge. It has provided evidence of the wide-ranging impact of the disease following cancer treatment, and has led to new models of cancer aftercare being implemented across the UK and internationally. Our research has linked directly to policy and practice through Professor Jessica Corner's membership of the NCSI Steering Group, as co-chair of the Department of Health's Cancer Patient Experience Advisory Group, and through our partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.

Submitting Institution

University of Southampton

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Case Study 9. Changing cancer services and improving patient outcomes in the UK

Summary of the impact

Research in Leeds showed, conclusively for the first time, improved outcomes for cancer patients managed in multidisciplinary specialised cancer care teams. Our research and systemic overview provided the evidence for a new government policy to reconfigure cancer care services into Cancer Networks, Centres and Units. This required radical evidence-based changes including centralisation of many cancer surgical services. A rigorous implementation plan based on research evidence, was initiated under Leeds leadership and sustained in subsequent government policies. It changed clinical guidelines and professional standards, altered practice for all UK cancer patients and contributed to improved cancer survival.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Oncology and Carcinogenesis, Public Health and Health Services

Lung cancer research at UCL/UCLH sets standards of care

Summary of the impact

UCL has conducted a series of national lung cancer trials, which have led to wide-scale changes in clinical practice. Two trials compared different platinum based therapies, which led to centres switching from using chemotherapy with cisplatin to carboplatin-based chemotherapy instead. Carboplatin can be given as an outpatient, and has fewer side effects, and has been (and still is) recommended as an alternative to cisplatin in the UK and US.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Oncology and Carcinogenesis

Use of aspirin and high dietary fibre to prevent and reduce deaths from bowel and other cancers, influencing global policy on cancer prevention and major public health campaigns (‘five-a-day’)

Summary of the impact

Thousands of people across the world with a genetic predisposition (HNPCC) to bowel cancer, together with the population at large, have benefited from research on aspirin and dietary fibre undertaken at the University of Bristol since 1993. Clinical trials involving the Bristol group show that the incidence of bowel cancer has fallen in HNPCC patients who take aspirin. Moreover, aspirin use after diagnosis of bowel cancer has reduced colorectal cancer mortality. Furthermore, a high fibre diet also lowers the risk of bowel cancer. These studies led to national public health initiatives (such as the `five-a-day' campaign) that have been instrumental in increasing public awareness of the importance of aspirin and dietary fibre in reducing the risk of bowel cancer, and in establishing international guidelines on dietary advice.

Submitting Institution

University of Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Clinical Medicine

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Oncology and Carcinogenesis

Re-assessment of Cancer risk in Barrett’s oesophagus.

Summary of the impact

Research within the Northern Ireland Barrett's oesophagus Register demonstrated that cancer risk in this disease was substantially lower than previously thought. It identified clinico-pathological characteristics and potential biomarkers that allow Barrett's patients to be stratified into those with higher and lower cancer risk. This research has influenced recommendations from Gastroenterological Associations in the UK and USA and resulted in altered clinical practice nationally and internationally, in which costly routine endoscopic surveillance is now targeted to Barrett's oesophagus patients with the highest cancer risk.

Submitting Institution

Queen's University Belfast

Unit of Assessment

Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences, Public Health and Health Services

Evidence-based primary care interventions to improve health benefits in cancer care

Summary of the impact

Bangor University staff (Neal & Wilkinson) are core members of a collaboration whose research since 2003 has had significant policy relevance and impact in the field of primary care oncology. Impact has been made in three areas:

  • The role of primary care in the earlier diagnosis of symptomatic cancer; for example by determining the predictive value of symptoms and translating this into Risk Assessment Tools for clinical practice
  • The contribution of primary care to cancer follow-up and the management of survivorship; for example by changing practice by illuminating poor care in prostate cancer
  • Empowering patients through communication of new cancer-related science in primary care; for example by developing core messages for use in communication about HPV.

Submitting Institution

Bangor University

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences, Public Health and Health Services

Anarchy in the Organism: Challenging perceptions of cancer through art

Summary of the impact

Professor Simeon Nelson's research into cancer from multiple perspectives led to the creation of a site-specific artwork, Anarchy in the Organism, a genuinely successful interdisciplinary project in which oncology, visual art, music, computer science, psychology and sociology came into enriching interaction. His artist's residency at University College Hospital London (2011—12) revolved around cancer patients and the fact of cancer, and was informed by patient-led discussions and interactions with carers, families, doctors, nurses, psychologists and research scientists. This consultative process, and the resulting public art installation, radically altered patient and clinician perceptions of the disease.

Submitting Institution

University of Hertfordshire

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Mathematical Sciences: Statistics
Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Cancer Treatment

Summary of the impact

Collaborative research conducted by the Biological Sciences Research Group (BSRG) has brought considerable benefits for the treatment of cancer patients. Experimental research has shown that the shelf-life of the biological cancer drug Herceptin can be greatly extended thereby bringing significant economic benefit through cost savings. A clinical trial has demonstrated that yoga benefits the health and well-being of patients with gynaecological cancer leading to prospects of improved cancer survivorship. Sowter provides research-informed oncology training for NHS clinical trials staff throughout the National Institute of Cancer Research UK network (NCRN), and has supervised two senior registrars through their MD qualifications.

Submitting Institution

University of Derby

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Clinical Sciences, Oncology and Carcinogenesis, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Case study 5. New systems for patient self-reporting improve care and quality of life for cancer patients

Summary of the impact

Researchers at the University of Leeds have designed and developed new approaches and technologies for cancer patients to self-assess their symptoms and quality of life. The work focused on electronic methods for collecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), developing PROMs for neglected areas of patient care, and running trials of these techniques. These approaches produced sizeable patient benefits including improved symptom control and better quality-of-life. These findings have influenced clinical guidelines in the UK and Canada, NHS policy and the endorsement of PROMs in the Health and Social Care Act (2012). Electronic PROMs systems based on the Leeds research have been implemented locally, nationally and internationally, making measurable improvements to patient welfare and health, such as a reported significant increase in completion of chemotherapy treatment.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Nursing, Public Health and Health Services

Improving the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors

Summary of the impact

Improvements in therapy have increased the 5-year survival rate for a number of cancers, leading to a new focus on promoting the health and wellbeing of cancer survivors. In the UK alone, over 500,000 people have physical or psychological consequences associated with cancer or its treatment.

Research at the University of Surrey has led to the development of self-management interventions for cancer survivors, demonstrating that active patient involvement leads to significant health and wellbeing benefits. These studies have driven national and international practice policy in the management of the consequences of cancer and its treatment.

Submitting Institution

University of Surrey

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

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