Cancer Equity For All
Shared Challenge
Different Genomics
Every 4 minutes, someone in the UK dies from cancer
New UK Cancer Cases (Annual)
375,000 per year | 7,211 per week | 1,027 per day
Cancer Deaths Annually: 167,142
Survival (10+ years): 50%
Preventable Cases: 38%
Annual NHS Cancer Service Costs: £5 billion
IMPROVEMENTS MADE
INEQUALITY REMAINS
Despite advances in cancer treatment, genomic medicine, and research, access remains unequal — worsening disparities in survival and patient outcomes.
For patients from underrepresented communities, barriers exist not only in access but in how care is discussed and decisions are made. For example, many decline genomic testing or clinical trials not because they are unwilling, but because they don’t fully understand or fear being a burden.
To achieve cancer equity for all, the NHS must go beyond representation and actively engage communities where they are, ensuring no one is left behind in the future of personalised cancer care.
The Business Case for Reducing Health Inequalities
The Financial Impact
£5 billion Increased NHS Treatment Costs
£31 billion Productivity Losses
£20 billion Lost Tax Revenue & Higher Welfare Payments
Reality of Health Inequalities
Cancer mortality is 60% higher in England’s most deprived communities compared to affluent areas — driven by a complex mix of social, economic, and healthcare barriers.
- Higher rates of emergency admissions
- Greater prevalence of long-term conditions, often alongside cancer
- Prolonged hospital stays (Length of Stay, LOS)
- Higher NHS spending per capita
Advancing Cancer Equity for All
Achieving cancer equity begins with knowledge, awareness, and action. We are committed to empowering healthcare and oncology professionals with the tools they need to recognise, address, and reduce disparities in cancer care — and to communicate in an equitable, accessible, and culturally competent way.
Our work focuses exclusively on cancer equity, ensuring that professionals:
✔ Understand the barriers to equitable cancer care and how to overcome them.
✔ Engage meaningfully with underserved and marginalised communities.
✔ Have the right conversations — internally within the NHS and cancer care networks, and externally with patients, the public, and advocacy groups.
✔ Communicate complex cancer information in ways that are clear, inclusive, and accessible — tailored to different literacy levels, cultural contexts, and needs.
By transforming how cancer information is delivered, understood, and acted upon, we are shaping a healthcare system that works for everyone, not just the few.
The Cost of Inequality
How Social Deprivation Drives Poor Health Outcomes
Health inequalities in England are deeply linked to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geography. People in the most deprived areas are almost 60% more likely to die from cancer than those in wealthier areas. This inequality is driven by multiple factors, including:
📌 Smoking rates are three times higher in deprived areas, significantly increasing cancer risk.
📌 Obesity is nearly 40% more common in low-income groups due to lack of access to healthy food and exercise facilities.
📌 Limited health literacy delays diagnosis and reduces access to life-saving treatments.
📌 Financial strain forces people to skip medical appointments due to transport costs or problems with taking time off work.
The cost-of-living crisis has worsened these challenges, particularly for socially deprived communities, white working-class populations, ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, neurodiverse people, LGBTQ+ groups, and others facing barriers to care.
Without targeted interventions, these inequalities will continue to widen.
Health Literacy & Information
The Problem | Bridging the Gap
Nearly half (43%) of adults in England struggle with health information, with an average reading age of just 9 — creating a major barrier to cancer care.
This means millions may not fully understand their cancer diagnosis, treatment options, or rights to genomic testing and clinical trials — widening inequalities in care.
Language barriers compound the issue: In cities like Manchester and London, 16-22% of people do not speak English as a first language, requiring culturally competent resources.
🔹 Delayed cancer diagnoses due to lack of awareness.
🔹 Reduced treatment adherence from complex medical instructions.
🔹 Deteriorating health outcomes, increasing care disparities.
We are developing Cancer Equity Communication Tools to make health information clear, accessible, and actionable, improving understanding and patient-professional engagement.
Addressing Unmet Need
Our Solution | Transforming Cancer Information
We are equipping healthcare professionals with the tools to communicate cancer information in ways that are clear, culturally appropriate, and aligned with diverse patient needs.
✔ Simplifying complex cancer information to ensure accessibility for patients with lower health literacy.
✔ Developing inclusive resources, with tailored messaging to meet the needs of diverse communities.
✔ Supporting NHS professionals in delivering equitable, patient-centred communication strategies that encourage shared decision-making.
✔ Introducing Cancer Equity Cards, structured detailing tools that provide concise, actionable information for healthcare professionals, patients, and advocacy groups, ensuring key messages are delivered clearly and consistently.
By improving how cancer information is communicated, we enable patients, NHS professionals, and the wider cancer community to work together for better, more equitable cancer outcomes.
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Developing
Cancer Equity Cards -
Focusing on
Equity -
Oncology Pharmacist
discusses the
Cancer Equity Card
with the
NHS Consultant / Doctor -
Consultant /Doctor
discusses the
Cancer Equity Card
with the Patient -
Multi-disciplinary team
discusses the
Cancer Equity Card
to achieve consistent care,
across NHS organisational
& geographical
boundaries -
Patient receives
equitable cancer care
as a direct impact
of the
Cancer Equity Card
Cancer Equity Cards
A Game-Changer for Cancer Equity
The first NHS resource designed to integrate cancer treatment guidance with real-world barriers — bridging gaps in clinical decision-making, patient access, and equitable service planning.
While many resources exist on cancer treatments, none explicitly integrate the barriers faced by patients in social deprivation and marginalised communities — barriers that impact access, adherence, and outcomes.
These tools provide NHS professionals, commissioners, and advocacy groups with clear, structured, and evidence-based information on new and existing cancer treatments, ensuring that equity is embedded in every stage of care.
For Healthcare Professionals & NHS Commissioners
Cancer patients often move between multiple NHS settings—from specialist centres like The Christie to local tertiary hospitals and radiotherapy units in places such as Oldham and Salford. Without structured, equity-focused communication, patients risk delays, inconsistent care, or missed treatment options.
Information gaps across these settings lead to delays, miscommunication, and inconsistencies in treatment.
Cancer Equity Cards streamline this process by ensuring that:
🔹 All clinicians involved in a patient's care have consistent, up-to-date guidance on treatment, access, and equity considerations.
🔹 Commissioners have the data needed to reduce unwarranted variation in service provision across different NHS Trusts.
For Patients & Advocacy Groups
For many patients, navigating NHS cancer pathways is complex — especially for those in deprived or underrepresented communities.
Low health literacy, financial strain, and cultural barriers often prevent access to genomic testing, personalised treatments, and clinical trials.
Cancer Equity Cards bridge this gap by:
✔ Providing clear, accessible treatment explanations
✔ Consistent, relevant resources
✔ Helping patients advocate for themselves in clinical settings
No patient should miss out on life-changing treatment due to lack of information. The Cancer Equity Cards ensure clear, accessible, and consistent guidance — so every patient can make informed decisions about their care.