On 5 November, WMUK’s Active Monitoring Checklist will be featured in a brochure presented at the House of Lords. It will appear alongside seven other innovations from partners within the Cancer52 alliance, all working to improve equality of care for people affected by rare and less common cancers.
Cancer52 is an alliance of more than 100 cancer charities working to address inequalities and improve outcomes for patients. Rare cancers make up about 24 out of every 100 (about 24%) cancer cases diagnosed in the UK each year, including Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL). They remain underrepresented and underfunded across research, services, and policy.
Influencing the National Cancer Plan
As the government develops the National Cancer Plan, we want to make sure that rare and less common cancers are not forgotten. This brochure, produced by Cancer52, will present policymakers with tools that are already making a significant difference to the lives of those living with cancer.
The challenge of improving patient pathways and reducing healthcare inequality has been highlighted by the government in its outline for the National Cancer Plan. We know that tools like the Active Monitoring Checklist directly address these issues, and we believe that their wider adoption can play a significant role in advancing care for those living with cancer.
Developed With Clinicians and Patients
Our Active Monitoring Checklist was developed in collaboration with clinicians, patients, and nurses to tackle disparities in care for those on active monitoring. Over the past year, it has been refined with input from a UK-wide steering group of nurses and valuable feedback from our WM community.
The checklist has already been presented at the British Society of Haematology and the International Workshop on Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinaemia, and has been accepted as a poster for display at the UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) conference this November.
The impact of the checklist is currently being validated through a patient survey, and we hope to publish the results in a leading medical journal next year.
About the Active Monitoring Checklist
Active monitoring is when your healthcare team monitors your WM rather than treating it right away. You may hear it called active surveillance or watch and wait.
This checklist is designed to help guide discussions with your clinical team so that you receive consistent and thorough care.
Some of the terms used in the checklist may vary depending on where in the UK you live. If you have any questions or would like further information about Active Monitoring, please contact us at support@wmuk.org.uk.
