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Greater Manchester has diagnosed the most lung cancers in the country as part of Lung Cancer Screening, as the NHS encourages more people to take up their lung health check when they get their invite. The city is one of the first areas in England to roll out NHS lung cancer screening across all 10 of its localities, achieving the national target four years ahead of schedule. New figures released ahead of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November reveal that 1,829 lung cancers have now been diagnosed through the NHS Lung Cancer Screening Programme in Greater [...]

A Tameside woman diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump she later struggled to locate is urging others not to ignore changes in their bodies and to seek medical advice if they are concerned. Lindsey Milhench, 45, first noticed a lump in her breast and mentioned it to her partner, James, who could feel it too. At first, she wondered whether the change might have been linked to a scratch from her cat, Pru, who had recently jumped on her chest while she lay in bed. Lindsey booked an appointment with her GP and [...]

A FORMER pub landlady has successfully quit smoking after 50 years following a lung cancer diagnosis. Grandma-of-six Jean Page, 73, from Marple, was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year after attending an NHS lung health check onboard a mobile clinic parked up at Hazel Grove Park and Ride in Stockport. People aged 55-74 who smoke or used to smoke are and who are registered with a GP in Greater Manchester will be sent an invite for NHS Lung Cancer Screening by post or via text message when a mobile clinic comes to their area. The service is run [...]

Primary schools in Greater Manchester are being urged to sign up to the Sun Safe Schools programme to help educate pupils, parents and communities about sun safety following the UK’s hottest summer on record. Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, part of the NHS, works with national skin cancer charity Skcin to promote the scheme which helps schools extend important health messages to the wider school community. More than 80 new schools have signed up to become Sun Safe schools in Greater Manchester With the start of a new school term now well underway, Dr Stephanie [...]

We are deeply saddened by the death of Professor John Moore, a remarkable clinician, leader, mentor and friend. John’s enthusiasm for innovation and his passion for improving cancer patient outcomes has driven significant improvements for the population of Greater Manchester and beyond. Across a distinguished NHS career spanning more than three decades, John made an extraordinary contribution to patient care, research, education and clinical leadership. He spent 19 years at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, in his clinical speciality critical care anaesthesia, most recently as Deputy Medical Director for Clinical and Scientific Services. At the Alliance, we will [...]

A grandad who was training for a 10K race and running several times a week believes taking part in a clinical trial has helped save his life after he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. Saeed Shakibaie, aged 75, had previously made a full recovery from bowel cancer 17 years ago and was enjoying an active lifestyle, regularly running and dancing salsa, bachata and kizomba. But when he began feeling unusually tired, he knew something was not right.   Saeed is sharing his story to coincide with Blood Cancer Awareness Month this September [...]

A Chorlton man is speaking out about his experience of bladder cancer and life with a urostomy bag in a bid to encourage more men to talk openly about their health and seek medical advice when something does not feel right. Pete Smart, 67, believes men are often reluctant to discuss cancer symptoms and can be guilty of putting off going to their GP, something he hopes to change by sharing his own story.   Pete Smart from Chorlton has played football with his current team mates since 1986. The keen cyclist and long-time [...]

Across Greater Manchester, between April 2025 and March 2026, over half (53.3%) of lung cancers were diagnosed at an early stage. Part of this success is down to the NHS Lung Cancer Screening programme in Greater Manchester which is led by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust with support from the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust. Since launching this screening programme more than 333,000 people have been invited for a lung health check. So far 202,000 lung health checks have been carried out and 139,000 people have had a low-dose [...]

When someone is diagnosed with cancer it’s a life-changing moment for the patient and their family. Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – part of the NHS – has a long-tradition of working with patients and carers because we believe we can’t improve cancer services, outcomes and experiences of care for patients without involving those with a lived experience of cancer. Here Stuart Kohler, 63, from Standish, in Wigan, blogs about his role as a carer representative with the Alliance’s Greater Manchester Cancer Voices community. “When my wife Gill was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, our world changed in [...]

The latest National Cancer Patient Experience Survey results highlight the positive experiences of people receiving cancer care across Greater Manchester. In Greater Manchester, 1,906 patients responded to the survey, resulting in a response rate of 44%. Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance recorded no scores below the expected range, with 10 areas performing above expectations nationally. Patients also gave their overall care an average rating of 9 out of 10, higher than the national average of 8.9. The survey found particular strengths in key areas of the cancer pathway: Patients reported positive experiences around receiving their diagnosis, [...]