This month saw the publication of The National Cancer Plan for England: delivering world class cancer care, setting out the government’s ambition to transform cancer outcomes over the next decade.
The aim of the plan is that by 2035, 75% of people diagnosed will be cancer-free or living well with cancer five years after diagnosis.
That ambition signals an important shift, not just extending life, but improving quality of life after diagnosis.
At Hunts Community Cancer Network, that belief sits at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to help people live their best life despite cancer.
HCCN supports adults 18+ living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis in Huntingdonshire. Today, more than 9,000 people in our area are living with a current cancer diagnosis and many more are living beyond it.
Every day, we see how much life continues after diagnosis and how much difference the right support can make. 💙
Designing cancer care around people’s lives
Chapter 4 of the plan focuses on “designing cancer care around people’s lives.” That language matters.
The strategy highlights personalised assessments of need, a named neighbourhood care lead, better support after treatment ends and a national prehabilitation offer.
This shift reflects something people tell us all the time. Cancer does not only affect the body. It affects confidence, identity, work, relationships, mental health and daily life.
This is not just a national ambition. It is something we are actively delivering here in Huntingdonshire.
Through our new pathway, every person who signs up to HCCN receives a personal phone call before joining any of our sessions or activities. That first conversation is not about paperwork or processes. It is about listening. It is about understanding what matters most to that individual right now, whether that is rebuilding strength, finding connection, or simply feeling less alone.
We are proud to work closely with the Hunts Community Cancer Nursing Team, an NHS-funded specialist service based out of Hinchingbrooke Hospital. The nurses provide expert clinical support at home, helping people manage symptoms, navigate treatment and remain as independent as possible.
HCCN strengthens this local service by funding additional training, specialist equipment and practical resources that extend what the nursing team can offer within the community.
Alongside this, HCCN provides its own programme of support for adults living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis. Our wellbeing workshops, movement sessions and support groups complement clinical support and focus on confidence, connection and quality of life.
We also recognise that not everyone can travel easily. While national plans increasingly highlight digital access, we know that local, face-to-face connection remains vital. That is why we have established welcoming drop-in centres across Huntingdonshire, in Huntingdon, Sawtry, St Neots and St Ives.
These centres bring support closer to where people live, with most locations offering both drop-in groups and physical activity sessions, ensuring movement and connection sit side by side within the community.
Together, this approach creates a more accessible and connected experience for people across Huntingdonshire.
HCCN began as a pioneering pilot in 2012 to bring cancer support closer to home. When the model proved successful, those early patients helped shape HCCN into a registered charity in 2015. Today, we continue that legacy by blending clinical partnership with community-centred support that respects the whole person, not just the diagnosis.
Prehabilitation, movement and living well
The plan commits to a digital-first prehabilitation offer by 2028. Prehabilitation is about helping people prepare physically and emotionally for treatment.
Evidence increasingly shows that movement plays a powerful role in cancer prevention, recovery and reducing recurrence risk. Staying active during and after treatment can improve strength and stamina, reduce side effects, support mental wellbeing and rebuild confidence.
At HCCN, our activities are carefully chosen and evidence-based. From structured prehab and rehab sessions to chair yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, balance and strength classes and gentle movement sessions, our programme is designed to be welcoming, inclusive and safe. Many of our sessions are offered both in person and via Zoom, so people can take part in the way that feels right for them.
Alongside movement, we also offer wellbeing therapies such as reflexology and Reiki, creating space for relaxation, restoration and emotional balance.
These sessions are not about pushing limits. They are about restoring trust in your body and confidence in what it can do.
As the National Cancer Plan places greater emphasis on preparation and recovery, we believe accessible, community-led support will remain essential. Digital tools are valuable and we embrace them where they help, but human connection still matters just as much.
Support beyond treatment
The National Cancer Plan makes a clear commitment to improving quality of life, not just survival. It recognises that people need coordinated, personalised support after treatment ends, so no one feels left to navigate the next stage alone.
The end of treatment can bring relief, but it can also bring uncertainty. Appointments slow down. The routine changes. Yet emotionally and physically, recovery is still very much ongoing.
At HCCN, our support does not begin or end at a hospital door. From diagnosis and beyond, we help people regain strength, restore confidence and shape life beyond cancer on their own terms.
Our support groups and drop-in sessions offer space to speak openly with others who truly understand. Our wellbeing sessions provide calm, creativity and confidence at a time when many feel unsure of themselves.
Living with and beyond cancer is not just about clinical milestones. It is about rediscovering strength, purpose and connection. 💙
And that journey is always stronger when it is shared.
Nutrition, prevention and recovery
The National Cancer Plan is clear that prevention matters. It recognises that unhealthy diet and obesity are significant cancer risk factors and commits to improving public awareness and creating healthier environments.
That focus is welcome.
Nutrition plays an important role not only in prevention, but in recovery and long-term wellbeing. For many people living with or beyond cancer, questions around food, weight, strength and energy become part of everyday life after diagnosis.
At HCCN, we have seen first-hand how practical, balanced guidance around nutrition can empower people during and after treatment.
Our Living Well With Cancer course was developed to help individuals build sustainable habits around eating, movement and mindset. It focuses on small, manageable changes that support healthy weight, tissue repair, immune function and overall resilience, while also helping people manage treatment side effects and feel more in control of their wellbeing.
The feedback from participants has been incredibly positive. Many have told us they feel more confident in their choices, more informed about their health and better equipped to support their recovery.
As conversations around prevention and personalised care continue to develop nationally, we look forward to expanding this work throughout 2026, ensuring nutrition remains part of the wider picture of living well despite cancer.
Partnership will make this possible
The National Cancer Plan makes clear that delivering real change will require strong partnership between the NHS, local systems and the voluntary sector.
That is encouraging, because partnership is where meaningful support happens.
Today, more than 740 people are registered with HCCN, accessing support, movement sessions, wellbeing activities and community connection across Huntingdonshire.
We will continue to work closely with the Community Cancer Nursing Team, strengthening the pathway from diagnosis onwards. Nurses signpost people to our services and when clinical needs arise, we help guide individuals back into the right NHS support. This joined-up approach reduces confusion and helps people feel held, rather than handed over.
We also work alongside other cancer charities and national organisations, sharing trusted information on prevention, workshops and specialist resources. When someone needs support beyond our offer, we ensure they are connected to the right expertise.
National plans set direction.
Local partnerships make that direction meaningful in people’s everyday lives. 💙
If you or someone you love is living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis in Huntingdonshire, we are here for you.
Message us directly or email info@hccnthecharity.org to find out more about our services.
