Living well with and beyond breast cancer in Scotland
- Written by: Angela Harris — Breast Cancer Now Scotland — Head of Scotland
- Published: 17th April 2018
Angela describes how the 'Moving Forward' project is helping people adapt to life after treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. In Scotland, around 4,600 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
At Breast Cancer Care Scotland (this link will take you away from our website), we know that adapting to life after breast cancer can be difficult and lots of people experience long-term side effects of treatment such as fatigue, pain or depression.
The number of people in Scotland being diagnosed with breast cancer has increased over the past decade, which means that more people will need support once treatment ends.
We want everyone affected by breast cancer to receive the best treatment and support – which is why we developed Moving Forward (this link will take you away from our website) in 2011. Moving Forward is a tailored intervention for people after they have finished hospital based treatment for breast cancer, designed and delivered in partnership with the NHS. The course covers a range of topics delivered by expert speakers who provide practical information and emotional support in order to help people manage the side-effects of breast cancer treatment – whether that be lymphoedema, menopausal symptoms or body image.
Over the last year, we ran 28 Moving Forward courses in partnership with Health Boards and are excited to be launching the service in the Highlands later this year as well.
To better understand Moving Forward’s impact to participants, the NHS and wider society, we commissioned an extensive external evaluation in 2017. We will be launching the results of this evaluation in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 25 April to MSPs, healthcare professionals and policy makers.
It’s encouraging that supporting people to live well with and beyond cancer is recognised in the Scottish cancer strategy ‘Beating Cancer: Ambition and Action’. However there is more work to do, and Moving Forward is a ready-made solution to support Cancer Networks and Health Boards in implementing a package of support for breast cancer patients. At Breast Cancer Care Scotland, we’re ready to work with NHS Scotland and others to deliver more Moving Forward courses to provide vital support to people affected by breast cancer.
End of page.
You may also like:
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of ASH Scotland, is appealing for support for proposals to restrict tobacco, vapes and nicotine products.
Continue readingBilly McClean reflects on why SCIC26 offers a vital opportunity to learn together, share what works, and shape the future of integrated care
Continue readingTo mark the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary Paul Okroj reflects on the importance of supported self management.
Continue readingTo mark Scottish Learning Disability Week (7 - 13 September), Bruce Adamson reflects on this year's call to action.
Continue readingIn her latest TFN column, our Chief Officer Sara Redmond reflects on the current state of social care in Scotland.
Continue readingKicking off September for the ALLIANCE's 20 year anniversary, Grace reflects on the Self Management Programme
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the priorities for 2026's Programme for Government.
Continue readingSandra Auld reflects on the ALLIANCE's people focused impact, collaboration, lived experience, campaigns and lasting change in Scotland.
Continue readingMark shares his experience with gambling harms, and how this intersected with the launch of the ALLIANCE's ScotRGH programme in 2020.
Continue readingProfessor Anna Glasier celebrates 20 years of the ALLIANCE and it's vital role in shaping the Women's Health Plan for Scotland.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on the challenges faced by community-led health organisations in delivering prevention.
Continue readingAnnie shares her experience of youth politics, and how SAFE has helped her make connections and makes sense of the world of politics.
Continue readingChloe Craig reflects on how we have helped connect Scotland’s lived experience voice to conversations happening beyond our borders.
Continue readingDr Irene Oldfather reflects on two decades of growth, collaboration, and person centred impact across Scotland and beyond.
Continue readingDisabled people are some of those who suffer most in crises but are ignored in planning. Our 6-step model builds justice throughout.
Continue readingMaisie Peebles shares her experience working with Aberdeenshire Public Health Team on a ‘digital conversations’ project.
Continue readingSara Redmond, ALLIANCE Chief Officer, on why the Scottish Government and parties must seize the opportunity for change.
Continue readingDirector of the Links programme, Roseann, discusses why we need to focus on person centred care, and why the programme is central to this.
Continue readingReflections on the ALLIANCE Integration in Action: Inclusive Leadership event.
Continue readingWhat does The Scottish Report tell us about how we're supporting people with inflammatory mediated autoimmune conditions (IMIDs)?
Continue readingAvril McLean from Action from ME shares new resources designed to support professionals understand the impact of ME on people's lives.
Continue readingMandy Wright from Home Energy Scotland shares how partnerships positively impact their work.
Continue readingToo many young people are falling through the mental health support gap. How do we fix the "Missing Middle"?
Continue readingJoe McCready from Carers UK shares how important their annual survey is, and why it is invaluable for unpaid carers to have their say.
Continue readingColette reflects on the last 12 years of the Community Links Worker programme, as well as her own experience of being a CLW.
Continue reading