THe Rich PiCtuRE

The rich picture on people at end of life
Macmillan’s aims and outcomes
Macmillan’s
aIMS AND
outcomes
Macmillan’s aims and outcomes
– and how they are different for
people at end of life
The estimated total number of people living with
cancer in the UK in 2015 is almost 2.5 million.
Assuming that all existing trends in incidence
and survival continue cancer prevalence is
projected to increase to 4 million in 2030.
Particularly large increases are anticipated in
the oldest age groups and in the number of
long term survivors. By 2040 77% of all cancer
survivors will be at least 65 years old and 69%
of cancer survivors will be at least 5 years from
diagnosis. (104) Macmillan’s ambition is to reach
all of these people and help improve the set of
9 Outcomes you can see opposite. Remember,
certain groups will identify more or less strongly
with the various Outcomes.
How are Macmillan’s 9 Outcomes
relevant to people at end of life?
One of the Macmillan outcomes for people with
cancer is ‘I want to die well’ – meaning that we
want to ensure that, for the 161,400 (3,4,5) people
who sadly die from cancer every year, they have
the best experience that they possibly could have.
Macmillan believes that people who are nearing
the end of their life should be able to die in the
place of their choice, and for many this will be
in their own home. Access to community nursing
at any time of the day or night is essential to
helping people to do this. We know that where
end of life patients’ needs are not met, it can
lead to traumatic experiences for patients and
their families.
Over 569,000 (3,4,5) people died in the UK in
2012, including around 161,400 (3,4,5) who died
from cancer.
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