This week, October 2025 I attended the United Kingdom Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (UKASCC) Conference at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. The event brought together professionals from across the world to share learning about supportive oncology. It was an inspiring few days that made me think deeply about where we are heading in cancer care.
UKASCC is the UK affiliate of MASCC, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. Together, they focus on improving supportive care for people with cancer, from diagnosis through to survivorship or end of life. The message was simple and powerful: supportive care is not optional. It is central to good cancer care.
What supportive oncology means to me
Supportive oncology covers everything that helps people live as well as possible with cancer. It includes psychological support, nutrition, rehabilitation, management of side effects, and palliative care. It is about working as a team to focus on what matters most to each person.
I have always believed that supportive care is where the human side of oncology shines. Hearing from experts and patients over three days reaffirmed that belief.
Learning from international experts
Professor Florian Scotte and Dr Declan Walsh opened the conference by describing how supportive oncology and palliative medicine can work hand in hand. This set the tone for the whole event: teamwork, integration and compassion.
One of the most moving sessions came from Professor Susanne Cruickshank from the Royal Marsden. She spoke about fear of cancer recurrence and how this fear affects almost every part of a person’s life. It made me reflect on how often nurses see this fear in our clinics. We can make a huge difference by acknowledging it, normalising it and helping people find support.
Cancer as a long-term condition
Richard Berman from The Christie spoke about the growing number of people living with cancer. By 2040, one in thirteen people will be living with the disease. This is positive in terms of survival, but it changes what our services need to offer. Cancer is now a long-term condition for many. That means focusing on prevention, self-management and ongoing support, not just acute treatment.
This shift connects closely to my own work on personalised care in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. We are building systems that recognise cancer as a long-term condition and strengthen support in communities and primary care.
Using technology to improve care
There was strong evidence for digital tools such as electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs). Dr Ollie Minton shared how these help patients report symptoms and wellbeing from home, allowing quicker responses from clinical teams. Studies show they improve quality of life and reduce hospital admissions. It was encouraging to hear that ePROMs may soon be part of national cancer policy.
Late effects and life after treatment
Several sessions focused on late effects of cancer treatment. Teams from Sheffield Hallam University and Nottingham shared how many patients feel unprepared for what comes after treatment ends. Their work on early identification, rehabilitation and supported self-management really stood out to me. This aligns with our regional focus on helping people live well with and beyond cancer.
Understanding and managing immunotherapy side effects
Immunotherapy is transforming cancer outcomes, but it brings new challenges. Clinicians from Clatterbridge, Velindre and The Christie described the complex side effects they now see. The Christie shared data showing that some patients can be safely managed as outpatients with the right monitoring and support. That kind of innovation helps reduce hospital admissions and improves quality of life.
One of the lighter moments was a live recording of , hosted by Dr Anna Olsson-Brown and Dr Ricky Frazer. They discussed what patients wish they had known before starting immunotherapy, using humour and honesty to explain complex issues. You can listen to it here.
Supporting older adults and those living with frailty
A session on frailty and older adults reminded me that many people with cancer live with other conditions. Fabio gomes and Jane Ireson from The Christie showed how using comprehensive geriatric assessments can reduce unplanned admissions and make care plans more realistic. Strong links between oncology, frailty and primary care services are vital for this to work well.
The nursing voice
It was brilliant to see nurses and allied health professionals leading so many sessions. Elaine Tomlins from the Royal Marsden chaired an excellent discussion on symptom management and personalised care. As nurses, we bring a holistic view that connects the clinical with the emotional. We are often the people who notice when something is not quite right and can act quickly to support patients and families.
I would love to see stronger nursing representation in national guideline development. The Royal Colleges of Physicians and Radiologists are already involved in shaping supportive oncology standards. Nursing must have an equal voice in that work.
What I took away
Over three days we heard about every part of supportive oncology, from physical activity to financial wellbeing. What struck me most was the shared purpose among everyone there. No matter their background, every speaker wanted the same thing: to help people live well with and beyond cancer.
As we wait for the NHS Cancer Plan, anticipated before the end of this year, it feels like supportive oncology is being recognised for its value. The focus on personalised care, neighbourhood health and long-term support mirrors what nurses already do every day.
Another powerful session was from Lesley Smith at NHS England, who spoke about pelvic radiation disease and the importance of awareness and specialist support. You can learn more through the .
Attending this conference left me feeling proud of our profession and hopeful for the future. Supportive oncology brings together everything nursing stands for: compassion, expertise and partnership. It is about seeing the whole person, not just the disease. That is what good cancer care looks like.
To find out more about UKASCC and their work, visit the United Kingdom Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (UKASCC).
