'Mental health help is often not there'

Charities back Express man’s plea for cancer care

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Dear Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Ashley Dalton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention

We are writing to urge you to ensure that mental health support is a central part of your National Cancer Plan when it is published next month. We would like to request a meeting with you to discuss the importance of this matter.

As you both know from personal experience, cancer is the worst thing that most people will go through in their lifetime, and yet available mental health support is often lacklustre and does not meet patient demand.

The Daily Express launched its Cancer Care campaign in January 2025, recognising the importance of support for cancer patients with emotional and mental health issues, both during and after treatment.

It came about after I was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer two and a half years ago. I’ve seen first hand how difficult it can be to access support, and I want your help to change that.

At the Express, we have heard of people who have been given the all-clear from cancer but have killed themselves because they are so scared of it returning.

We have heard of people who have only survived with the help of their GPs or organisations like the Samaritans.

Everyone we have spoken to has told us how they were in need of support, and while some cancer departments do offer mental health support, in most cases it just wasn’t there. It’s essential that all cancer units offer such support to patients, both during and after treatment.

Meanwhile, I’ve recently been told one of my tumours has slightly increased in size, and there is uncertainty about what this means for my treatment regimen.