i can issue 6

Editor's letter:
Tell us what you need

The Office for National Statistics reported recently that the death rate from cancer is falling (although the incidence of many cancers is increasing). Despite this good news, the report also noted that cancer is the major cause of death in England and Wales. Those of you reading i can will know all too well the impact a diagnosis of cancer brings. Being given information to take away and read in your own time can help patients and carers come to terms with the diagnosis and knowing what to expect can help them to cope.

It is frustrating, then, to hear that, in a survey of people using the Macmillan Cancer Relief's Mobile Cancer Information Centre, 51% of patients said they did not get written information when they were diagnosed with cancer. The situation is also difficult for carers – 41% of visitors to the Centre went because they found it hard to get information about their relative or friend's cancer. The Department of Health is keen to rectify this and guidelines being developed by NICE should put standards in place to ensure patients and carers are given information. Scotland is also tackling the issue.

We hear a lot about patient-centred services, but what does this actually mean? At a recent meeting on cancer, there was a report about whether patients preferred their doctor to sit or stand during the consultation. Not surprisingly, the patients generally preferred it when the doctor was seated. Do write and tell us what it is that makes your visit to the cancer clinic easier and what it is that really annoys or frustrates you. We can feed your comments to the National Cancer Director and to Ian Gibson, MP (who writes for us in this issue). There are patient/professional partnership groups all around the country but many of you will not be involved in them – and we would like to hear your views.

Jean Mossman, Editor