GM Cancer News

The Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network comes under a single leadership structure this month. Claire O'Rourke, the Managing Director of the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and the Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network, with Miss Susi Penney, Medical Director, and Alison Armstrong, Associate Director, who will support with her new role. This comes as Chris Sleight, former Chief Officer, and Katie Moss, former Programme Director, leave the Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network for retirement and new opportunities. Claire O’Rourke, Managing Director for the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, will undertake the joint leadership role to [...]

A contracts manager from NHS Greater Manchester has helped raise more than £5,300 for cancer charities following her own diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Nicola Harrison, a breast cancer fundraiser, who has raised more than £5,000 for cancer charities. Nicola Harrison, who lives in Ashton-under-Lyne, joined forces with fellow members of local support group Bosom Buddies to produce a charity calendar in aid of the Tameside Macmillan Unit and Prevent Breast Cancer. Nicola said: "I found a lump, no bigger than a pea, during a self-examination in May 2024. Because of my family [...]

Women from Greater Manchester star in a new campaign by the NHS to raise awareness about the importance of checking your breasts or chest. Nabila Farooq is one woman who stars in the new campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer. The campaign by Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – part of the NHS -  encourages people to “look and feel” every month and report any potential signs of breast cancer to their GP. Its launch follows Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and includes local faces as well as some Greater Manchester landmarks including Central [...]

Congratulations to Miss Susi Penney on being included in the 2025 Northern Leaders List We are proud to announce that Susi Penney, Medical Director at the Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, has been named on the 2025 Northern Leaders List which celebrates those making the greatest positive impact across the North. Inspired by Sir Howard Bernstein, the late former chief executive of Manchester City Council and a key figure in Manchester’s regeneration, this list highlights outstanding regional leadership. Susi, who has been a consultant head, neck and thyroid surgeon at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust since 2012, also served as [...]

Gill Kohler, 62, from Standish, Wigan, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer two years ago after her niece noticed how much over-the-counter indigestion medicine she was relying on. Now she is supporting a new Heartburn Health Roadshow, which will be in Greater Manchester in October, to help others spot potential symptoms of oesophageal cancer – also known as cancer of the foodpipe – sooner. A former primary school teacher from Greater Manchester is urging people not to ignore the signs of persistent heartburn as she backs a new awareness campaign coming to Greater Manchester this autumn. [...]

Look out for an eye-catching the new Heartburn Health Roadshow visiting 10 areas of Greater Manchester to raise awareness about ongoing heartburn and the potential symptoms of oesophageal cancer – also known as cancer of the food pipe. The Heartburn Health Roadshow is touring Greater Manchester between 6 and 17 October 2025 and is a partnership between the Alliance and national charity Heartburn Cancer UK. Residents are invited to pop along to get information about heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux and find out more about the potential early symptoms of oesophageal cancer to look [...]

Healthcare professionals working with people affected by cancer can now refer patients into NHS Talking Therapies. The service is free, confidential, and available to anyone registered with a GP in Manchester, Bolton, Salford, Trafford and Wigan. A women talks to a counsellor while sitting on a sofa. Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance has worked with Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Talking Therapies Service to create a dedicated pathway which can help support people who have been affected by cancer. It offers support and psychological therapies to people who may be experiencing psychological difficulties linked to [...]

People in Westhoughton, Bolton who are current or former smokers are being offered an ‘MOT for their lungs’ this autumn. The mobile NHS clinic will be offering free lung health checks in Westhoughton this Autumn. The NHS will be offering free lung health checks which can help find lung cancer at an early stage when it is much more treatable to help save lives. The quick checks – which will take place on board a mobile clinic parked in a community location – are for people who smoke or who have previously smoked cigarettes [...]

People from The Heatons in Stockport who are current or former smokers are being offered a free lung health check this autumn. The mobile Lung Cancer Screening unit is coming to serve people from The Heatons in Stockport The NHS is offering lung cancer screening which can help find lung cancer at an early stage when it is much more treatable. The quick checks – which will take place on board a mobile clinic parked at Portwood Tesco – are for people who smoke or who have previously smoked cigarettes or shisha and who [...]

Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance is launching a new breast cancer awareness campaign encouraging people to “look and feel” every month ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.  The campaign features women from the Greater Manchester area and encourages people to be vigilant and report any potential signs of breast cancer to their GP. The launch will include advertising in the Manchester Evening News and on the In Your Area and Bolton News, Oldham Times and Bury Times websites as well as social media promotion and work to promote the messages with community groups. The [...]