It's May 2026 and we are back with another news episode where we dissect the ways in which cancer is making the news.

In this episode Steve and Femi look into a new quantitative ultrasound which enables accurate prediction of three-year survival in locally advanced breast cancer; a new AI-driven way of identifying how patients with advanced bowel cancer will respond to a drug that was recently introduced by the NHS; a new injectable form of a key cancer drug which could see thousands of NHS patients across the UK spending far less time in hospital; and they look at how Eastenders is covering a blood cancer story with the help of Blood Cancer UK.

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In the second of our three special episodes recorded at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, host Steve Bland delves into the brand new AI and Digital Strategy launched by the North East London Cancer Alliance, with support from Pathfinder Intelligence.

Steve chats to Wayne Douglas, formerly of the Alliance, George Hawkins and Sofija Venckute from Pathfinder and Dip Mukherjee, Consultant Upper GI & Laparoscopic Surgeon from BHRUT, about a strategy that lays out how AI can impact cancer care in North East London.

We also hear from George's mum!

Read more about the AI Strategy here: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/artificial-intelligence-strategy

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In the third and final episode of three special episodes recorded at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, host Steve Bland hears all about the new Health Inequalities Strategy, launched by the Alliance with support from the team at Claremont.

Steve is joined by guests including Claremont managing director Ian Fannon; Caroline Cook, Early Diagnosis Programme Lead at the North East London Cancer Alliance and Mansi Tara, the Health Promotion Lead for Breast Screening for North, Central and East London.

Read more about the Health Inequalities Strategy here: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/health-inequalities-strategy

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In the first of three episodes recorded at a special event at Tower Hamlets Town Hall, host Steve Bland explores the North East London Cancer Alliance's new Workforce Strategy with guests including Yvonne Beadle, Workforce Programme Manager at the North East London Cancer Alliance, and Alison Hill, the Director of Cancer and Palliative Care Nursing at Barts Health NHS Trust.

With cancer services facing unprecedented demand and ongoing workforce challenges, this strategy sets out a clear, ambitious plan to support, grow, and sustain the cancer workforce across north east London. Listen to find out more!

Read more about the Workforce Strategy here: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/our-workforce-strategy

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In this April 2026 news roundup episode, Steve Bland and Femi Odewale explore Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the story of Joel, whose cancer was discovered after returning a bowel screening kit. Joel's encouraging others to do the same, as is Olympian Iwan Thomas. Former 400m runner Iwan says "please don't die of ignorance" after being diagnosed with cancerous cells in his bowel after initially ignoring the routine tests.

On bowel cancer, we also hear about the Bowelbabe Fund hitting the magical £20m mark, almost four years after the death of Bowelbabe herself, Dame Deborah James.

But that's not all. We also talk women's rugby and the BIG PINk WEEKEND and a potentially life-saving blood test that could detect pancreatic cancer.

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Returning to work after cancer can be both a hopeful milestone and a daunting challenge. For many people living with and beyond cancer, work represents normality, purpose and financial security — but it can also bring anxiety, fatigue and difficult emotions.

In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Mark Guymer, CEO of the charity Cancer Support UK, and Sarita Yaganti, from the alliance, to explore what going back to work really looks like after a cancer diagnosis, and how both employees and employers can make the process healthier, kinder and more successful.

Together, they unpack the emotional and practical realities cancer patients often face when re-entering the workplace. From managing lingering side effects such as fatigue, brain fog and pain, to navigating awkward conversations with colleagues who may not know what to say, returning to work can feel overwhelming.

The episode also addresses stigma and fear, including worries about being perceived as less capable, concerns about job security, and the very real fear of cancer recurrence that can resurface under stress.

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In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Dr Angela Wong, Chief Medical Officer, Sarita Yaganti, Programme Lead for Personalised Cancer Care, and Yvonne Beadle, Workforce Programme Manager, all from North East London Cancer Alliance.

Together, they explore the development of the Alliance’s new Workforce Strategy and the extensive collaboration, insight, and commitment that has gone into shaping it. With cancer services facing unprecedented demand and ongoing workforce challenges, this strategy sets out a clear, ambitious plan to support, grow, and sustain the cancer workforce across north east London.

The conversation looks at why workforce planning is such a critical enabler of high-quality cancer care, and how investing in people directly translates into better experiences and outcomes for patients. Sarita and Yvonne discuss how the strategy reflects the realities of working in cancer services today, from recruitment and retention pressures to the need for new roles, new skills, and more personalised approaches to care.

Listeners will hear how the strategy has been informed by staff voices across disciplines and settings, ensuring it is grounded in real-world experience. The episode also explores how workforce development supports personalised cancer care, improves equity of access, and helps ensure that patients receive the right care, from the right professional, at the right time.

For more information about the cancer alliance’s Workforce Strategy, visit: https://www.nelcanceralliance.nhs.uk/our-workforce-strategy

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In this episode of Taking Control of Cancer, host Steve Bland is joined by Wayne Douglas, Diagnosis and Treatment Programme Lead, and Angela Wong, Chief Medical Officer, both from the North East London Cancer Alliance; and George Hawkins from Pathfinder Intelligence, to explore how the alliance is developing a comprehensive AI strategy aimed at improving cancer outcomes across the region.

The discussion begins by addressing the system pressures driving the strategy. Cancer incidence is rising, referrals have increased, and diagnostic services are under sustained strain.

Against this backdrop, the alliance is exploring how artificial intelligence can help shift the NHS conversation from simply digitising frontline services to improving frontline productivity and clinical capacity. Rather than adopting AI as a novelty or isolated innovation, the alliance is taking a deliberate, proactive approach to embedding it within cancer pathways.

The episode highlights how the strategy links productivity, sustainability, and patient safety. AI solutions such as chest X-ray triage illustrate how technology can prioritise urgent cases more effectively, improving safety while also reducing wasted clinician time and easing pressure on imaging services. Crucially, these productivity gains can help offset the costs of AI tools, supporting financial sustainability at a time when healthcare budgets are under pressure.

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