Around two million people are living with or beyond cancer England at the moment. When we talk about people living with and beyond cancer, we are referring to the phase of the cancer pathway extending from the point of diagnosis through treatment to cure or living with indolent or advanced disease.

This part of the cancer pathway also includes people who are living with the consequences of their treatment, whether they are palliative or not. The living with and beyond cancer agenda does not extend into end of life care (people are considered to be approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within the next 12 months, although this isn’t always possible to predict).

It is estimated that the number of people living with cancer will rise to four million by 2030. Increasing incidence is due to:

• an aging population, and subsequent higher rates of diagnosis in older people
• earlier diagnosis and better treatment, which means that people are living longer with and beyond cancer

As a result, the national and regional ‘Living with and beyond Cancer’ programme aims are to support people to self-manage and for CCGs to regard cancer as a long term condition. Good outcomes means not only that people survive their cancer, but that they have the best quality of life possible for as long as possible.

This commissioning guide provides context, useful resources and recommendations for London Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Strategic Planning Groups (SPGs).This is to assist in commissioning and performance management of their local providers on the recovery package as part of the ‘Living with and beyond cancer’ programme.