The improving cancer journey service is a non-clinical service, to support people
affected by cancer living in Fife. It offers people the opportunity to undertake a holistic
needs assessment and also we can offer support to people's family and their carers.
People affected by cancer in Fife can refer to our service by telephoning us or they'll
find leaflets in their GP service and they often are referred by their cancer nurse specialists, and family members also.
People bring a wide range of concerns to us, the the top concerns in Fife are
tiredness and fatigue, and emotional concerns and financial concerns, but people can also bring a
diverse range of things including worrying about their pets or worrying about how their family are
coping with the impact of a cancer diagnosis so yes, it's quite a wide and varied range of concerns.
I honestly don't know how I would have managed without the support from the
improving cancer journey because it really did help, at the time that the letter came through
I was really really stuck, I was confused, I didn't know where to go next I didn't know-
I was so overwhelmed with all the treatment and all that end, and that was
horrible, a really horrible point in the diagnosis, like after the diagnosis was the end but then I
had Sharon there to help me pick up the pieces, if I didn't have the service, mentally
it would affected me really really badly... I don't think I would be anywhere near where I am right now.
The basis of our conversation is holistic we will discuss any areas the person affected
by cancer highlights on the day.
The majority of people that we see tell us that they've never had that opportunity to talk to someone in depth
and at length like that before and it can make a huge difference
- you can really never underestimate the value of a good conversation, in a relaxed setting.
I think that the holistic needs assessment tool provides an opportunity to look at your life
from that view and to highlight areas that you could move forward in.
It was really really good and interesting to break down all the different things that I
was actually needing support with, that I didn't even realise myself.
The Improving Cancer Journey is a truly integrated service and we work with people within the health
and social care partnership, we work with Fife Council, NHS Fife acute services and third sector organisations.
All these organizations are represented at project board level
down to our work streams and we identify gaps and pathways for people affected by cancer and
then we work with our partners to then put in a pathway that meets the needs of the people
that are actually accessing the service.
I suppose for me it's... very positive to listen to Pamela talk about the difference
Improving Cancer Journey made to her life and she's...
quite regularly said that if she hadn't got the support from me then she doesn't know how long
it would have taken her to get back on her feet.
I can't honestly express how much it means to me. So important and I think everyone deserves
to have the support network from Macmillan.