The UK government has announced that every cancer patient will receive a Personalised Cancer Plan to improve outcomes and quality of life, as part of wider reforms to cancer care
The UK government has unveiled a major cancer care initiative to ensure every person diagnosed with cancer receives a personalised support plan tailored to their needs throughout their treatment and recovery. The move, part of broader efforts to improve cancer outcomes and support services across England, aims to help patients navigate diagnosis, treatment decisions, and day-to-day challenges with specialist guidance and practical resources. It signals a shift toward more comprehensive, patient-centred care as part of the national strategy to enhance cancer services.
On World Cancer Day, the UK’s new personalised support plans highlight a push for better care for all cancer patients.
How the Personalised Cancer Plan works
For the first time, every patient will receive a Personalised Cancer Plan that offers coordinated coverage extending beyond medical treatment and diagnosis to address all aspects uniquely impacted by cancer, such as returning to work, tailored dietary advice, and mental health support.
The plan will include an end-of-treatment summary that provides insight into life after chemotherapy or surgery, giving patients clear guidance on who to call, what to look out for, and where to find ongoing support, such as counselling or cancer groups.
Even after successful cancer treatment, some patients struggle to return to their lives as they had before diagnosis. The toll of cancer impacts mental and physical health and can be long-lasting. The Personal Cancer Plan aims to support patients with mental health support at all stages of their journey.
Patients will be connected to cancer charities for specialist support through the NHS App at diagnosis. The App will become a digital portal for cancer care, where patients can book appointments, access support programmes, view records, check their Personalised Cancer Plan, and give feedback.
Expert and Government Reactions
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said:
“If you’ve ever sat in a waiting room dreading what comes next or lain awake at 3am wondering how you’ll pay the bills while you’re off work for treatment, you’ll know that cancer doesn’t just attack your body – it takes over your whole life. I was fortunate. I had a supportive employer, a family who could rally around me, and the financial security to focus on getting better. But I know that’s not everyone’s reality – and it shouldn’t be based on luck.
For too long, we’ve treated the tumour and left patients to figure out the rest on their own. That ends now. This plan means nobody gets handed a diagnosis and is then abandoned to navigate the system alone.
This is care that actually fits around people’s lives, not the other way around. It’s the biggest shift in how we support cancer patients in a generation.”
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Cancer, said: “Being diagnosed with cancer affects every part of your life and the lives of the people around you which is why the NHS is committed to supporting people with cancer in every possible way, from the best treatment and clear information through to psychological and practical help.
A personalised cancer plan will bring all this together, helping people face cancer with the right care, at the right time, in the right way.”
Amy Rylance, Director of Health Services, Equity & Improvement, at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer, and it’s now the most common cancer in the UK. But if you’ve just been diagnosed, it can feel lonely and confusing. So, we welcome the Government’s plans to make booking appointments simpler, to improve diagnosis, to give men personalised support plans, and to point men in the direction of leading charities like us at Prostate Cancer UK.
We’re also encouraged that the Government is taking the issue of safe and effective screening so seriously, being led by the evidence and engaging with our experts during the consultation period.”
Professor Habib Naqvi, Chief Executive, NHS Race and Health Observatory, said: “We welcome the proposals for personalised cancer care plans which have the potential to be a real game changer in providing meaningful, holistic support to cancer patients at a times of great need.
Culturally sensitive tailored support, along with signposting to trusted, relevant local organisations and a named care lead, can help address longstanding inequalities in cancer care experienced by marginalised communities.”
