Summary
This consultation response from the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer (CentRIC+) at the University of Southampton outlines evidence-based recommendations to improve early diagnosis, treatment, personalised care, and equity in cancer services. The authors call for targeted interventions for high-risk groups, better support for informed decision-making through digital tools like Breast Cancer Choices and Lynch Choices, and improvements in communication between patients and clinicians—particularly around prostate cancer treatment options. They also highlight the need for research that goes beyond symptom awareness to address systemic delays in primary care referrals.
The response stresses that personalised cancer care must move beyond tick-box metrics toward high-quality, supportive conversations and community-based models. Evaluations of programmes like PACC and Right by You Wessex show that such reforms improve patient outcomes and can be delivered cost-neutrally. The authors call for the national cancer plan to prioritise patient experience, aftercare, and the reduction of inequalities—especially for underserved populations. They also urge the NHS to accelerate the adoption of evidence-based innovations and support more agile research frameworks to enable timely, effective integration into practice.
Authors
Professor Claire Foster, Professor of Psychosocial Oncology, Co-Director of the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer: CentRIC+ in Health Sciences, University of Southampton.
Professor Lynn Calman, registered adult and mental health nurse and Co-Director of the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer: CentRIC in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer
Dr Lucy Brindle, Associate Professor in Early Diagnosis Research at University of Southampton
Dr Chloe Grimmett, Associate Professor at University of Southampton
Dr David Wright, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer (CentRIC+) in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton.
