In a troubling revelation, a new analysis by leading charity Macmillan Cancer Support has found that black cancer patients in England are significantly less likely to feel they are receiving adequate support while undergoing treatment in hospital compared to other patient groups. The survey results highlight the stark and unacceptable variations in people’s experiences of cancer care based on race.
Racial Disparities in Perceptions of Cancer Support
According to Macmillan’s analysis of the 2023 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey for England, only 71% of black patients with cancer felt they were getting sufficient support for their overall needs during hospital treatment. This falls noticeably short of the national average of 76% of patients who reported feeling adequately supported.
The disparities extended beyond just the patients themselves. The survey found that black patients were also less likely to say their family or carers were involved in treatment decisions to the extent they would have liked, at 75%, compared to 80% of white patients who felt their loved ones were satisfactorily included in the decision-making process.
Patients with Disabilities Face Additional Challenges
In addition to the racial inequities, the survey exposed the compounded challenges faced by cancer patients living with disabilities or other long-term conditions. Disturbingly low percentages of these patients felt they were getting adequate support for their overall needs during cancer treatment:
- 61% of cancer patients with autism
- 68% of those with a mental health condition
- 69% of those with a neurological condition like epilepsy
- 70% of those with a learning disability
These figures stand in stark contrast to the 77% of cancer patients without comorbid long-term conditions who reported feeling sufficiently supported.
Unacceptable Variations in Cancer Experiences
Steven McIntosh, the Partnerships Executive Director at Macmillan Cancer Support, decried these findings, stating:
These figures are yet more evidence of the unacceptable variations in people’s experiences of cancer care. It shouldn’t be the case that who you are and where you live affects whether you receive the support that’s right for you.
Steven McIntosh, Macmillan Cancer Support
McIntosh called for the issue to be a central focus of the government’s national cancer plan, emphasizing that “better is possible.” He asserted that a core aim must be “ensuring fair access to life-saving cancer care for communities who currently have the worst experiences.”
Amplifying Underrepresented Voices
Saffron Hanson, who leads the Can You C Me project aimed at addressing ethnic disparities in cancer care, said the findings underscore the “pressing need for equity in cancer care, particularly for Black communities.” The project is working to “amplify their voices, identify systemic barriers, and drive meaningful change.”
Hanson articulated their mission to ensure every patient receives “culturally sensitive care that meets their needs and those of their families,” noting that “together, we can show that better is not only possible but essential.”
The Human Impact
For patients like Nicola Boyd, a black British woman diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, the challenges in navigating her diagnosis and treatment have been all too real. She spoke of the difficulty in advocating for herself when unclear about what things meant and pushing for her specific needs to be met.
While expressing respect for the NHS, Boyd asserted that “people shouldn’t have to navigate their diagnosis and treatment like a maze and raise their voices to push for answers beyond the generic responses and get a more personalised treatment plan.” She rejected the notion that there should be a “one size fits all approach to cancer care.”
It’s so hard to advocate for yourself when you are unclear what things mean, and if you have specific needs. I was lucky that my medical team eventually got to know me and understand I am an individual, but I still felt I was put under pressure to have treatment that I was unsure of.
Nicola Boyd, breast cancer patient
The Path Forward
In response to the survey findings, an NHS spokesperson acknowledged the critical importance of patient experience of care. They noted that the very purpose of commissioning the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey is to “help us improve services.”
The spokesperson highlighted that while black cancer patients and those with comorbidities still rated their overall experience highly at nearly 9 out of 10, the NHS remains “committed to addressing their concerns while supporting our staff who are treating a record number of patients.”
As Macmillan, patient advocates, and the NHS alike assert, better is possible – and essential. Concrete actions to narrow the racial and disability-related gaps in cancer care experiences must be a top priority. Only by listening to and elevating the voices of those most impacted by these disparities can we hope to create a more just, equitable, and supportive system for all cancer patients, regardless of their race or disability status.
