Macmillan Cancer support has made its mission to improve the quality of life of anyone suffering from or affected by cancer. This means that patients, their families, friends and carers are all looked after by Macmillan Cancer Support, as they understand that cancer affects us all.
Macmillan is a registered charity which was founded almost a century ago in 1911 and is governed by a board of trustees, all volunteers, who manage the charity and oversee its control and direction.
The daily management of the charity is run by the Chief Executive and the executive management team. The network is then made up of national and regional directors, and then more local offices.
Macmillan's Ambition
Macmillan see cancer as a journey which affects many, and aim to reach out and help each and every sufferer along their way. Indiscriminate of which type of cancer they suffer, their location, background or status, the charity is available to people from all walks of life who need help, information and support.
Macmillan wish to help people in both a tangible way, with information leaflets or the medical support they provide. As well as this they aim to pressure the government to introduce health care policies and change legislation to benefit cancer sufferers across the UK, such as by abolishing hospital parking charges.
Macmillan work on the premise that one in three people will get cancer at some point, and so feel it affects us all and measures must be taken to help. Cancer is also becoming part of our day to day lives as many people are surviving but need ongoing medical, financial and emotional support in order to continue to live a fulfilled life.
As a result, Macmillan aim to place themselves at the centre for cancer support. By having a knowledge of the disease and the health system, as well as available treatments and sources, Macmillan can guide people on their journey to health.
What Macmillan Cancer Support Does
Macmillan fund nurses and specialists to care for cancer patients, in the knowledge that medical help and advice is the foremost way of dealing with cancer. Macmillan also provide their own services such as a helpline and website.
The charity also understand that beating cancer goes further than receiving medical help. By supporting the carers so that they can get cover if they need time off from their demanding work, Macmillan ensure both the patient and their network are able to cope with the disease.
Macmillan also believe in the importance of emotional support, and understand their role as an advice and listening service, with the help of trained cancer support specialists.
Finances can also make the struggle against cancer much more difficult for sufferers and their families, as not only are treatments expensive at times, but even the transit to the hospital and the car parking fees. With this in mind, Macmillan give grants, benefits and information to people to help them live with cancer in a financially viable way.