GM Cancer News

Hospitals across Greater Manchester have begun rolling-out a new artificial intelligence tool that could help diagnose prostate cancer faster – helping doctors identify the men who need urgent treatment first. The technology is being introduced at hospitals in Wigan, Bolton, Stockport and Salford as part of a pilot led by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance funded through the NHS Cancer Programme and supported by SBRI Healthcare. A new AI tool will analyse prostate MRI scans using validated NHS data and flag scans that are most likely to show cancer, allowing radiologists to prioritise patients at highest risk. [...]

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, [...]

The NHS is urging millions of people in their 50s to complete lifesaving bowel cancer screening tests, as new figures show this age group is less likely to take part. The latest annual bowel screening figures show that just over half (56.2%) of 54-year-olds took part in screening in the year April 2024 to March 2025, compared with more than 7 in 10 (73.5%) 70 to 74-year-olds. Around 100 cancers a week on average were diagnosed through the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme during the year, with almost 5.2 million people taking part in screening – nearly half [...]

Primary schools in Greater Manchester are being invited to sign up to a free Sun Safe Schools programme – helping pupils stay safe in the sun and cutting their future risk of skin cancer. The call comes from the NHS Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, which has teamed up with national skin cancer charity Skcin to encourage schools to gain the Sun Safe Schools accreditation. The Alliance has been working with primary schools across Greater Manchester for the past few years on the scheme. Nationally over 11,700 settings have now become Sun Safe Schools meaning more than [...]

Our Medical Director, Miss Susannah Penney, and Associate Director, Alison Armstrong, were invited to attend a special reception at Downing Street on Monday 6 July, to celebrate the NHS's 78th birthday. Hosted in the No. 10 garden, the event saw Prime Minister Keir Starmer pay tribute to the invaluable contribution of NHS staff. There was also a speech from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care the Rt Hon James Murray MP. Susi and Alison were among 100 NHS staff invited to attend the reception. They spoke to the Prime Minister and Mr Murray [...]

Pictured: Carole Pollard, Patient Representative at the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance's People and Communities Conference As someone living with stage four metastatic breast cancer for six years, I jumped at the chance to go along to the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance’s People and Communities Conference to find out more about all the excellent work being done in cancer care.  Delegates at the People and Communities Conference taking part in energising tai chi with Rob from Prehab4Cancer First up: starting the day with a bit of energising tai chi with Rob from Prehab4Cancer. It [...]

A dad from Salford who has recently been treated for oesophageal cancer is urging other men to learn the warning signs and visit their GP if something doesn’t feel right. Gary Carney, 54, from Walkden, first realised something was wrong when he began having difficulty swallowing food. He said: “My wife was away for a few days, so I got a takeaway. Afterwards, I found myself rubbing my chest to try and help the food go down. I thought it was just the takeaway not agreeing with me. “But then it happened again over the [...]

James Murray, Health and Social Care Secretary, has been visiting Wythenshawe Hospital - part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust to witness the pioneering work of clinicians using artificial intelligence to detect diseases earlier. Wythenshawe Hospital is one of a series of hospitals using the new technology in Greater Manchester thanks to the Greater Manchester Chest X-Ray AI pilot which was has been rolled out across seven NHS trusts by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance. The pilot demonstrates what can be achieved when partners come together with a shared goal. Through collaboration between Greater Manchester Cancer [...]