Better cancer services

We lead innovation in improving the patient experience, and quality of life for people living with and beyond care.

An easy access guide to support services, activities and therapies to help people living with cancer within the SWAG Cancer Alliance region

The Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon & Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance is the forum to bring providers and commissioners together with patients, to co-design services to optimise pathways, ensure effective integration and address variation, and are the vehicle that leads the activity required at a local level to meet the 2023/24 ambitions set out by the Cancer Taskforce.

The Cancer Alliance puts clinical leaders across primary, secondary, and tertiary care in the driving seat for improving quality and outcomes across cancer pathways, based on shared data and metrics. Continuing to deliver the strategy and its programmes will require committed leadership, smart choices around investing to save, and a firm intent to try new approaches and test new models of care.

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Our Priorities

Early Diagnosis

Early Diagnosis

Early Diagnosis

Faster Diagnosis

Faster Diagnosis & Operational Performance

Faster Diagnosis & Operational Performance

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Prehab Care

Prehab Care

Treatment and Care

Treatment & Care

Treatment & Care

Health Inequality

Health Inequalities

Health Inequalities

Patient Engagement

Patient Engagement

Patient Engagement

Our Projects

The Bristol and Severn Hepatitis C ODN, in partnership with SWAG, have been selected for an NHS Cancer Programme pilot project aiming to achieve earlier detection of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Cancer Care Map is a simple, online resource that aims to help you find cancer support services in your local area wherever you are in the UK.

Your lungs work hard for you throughout your life. As you get older, it’s worth getting them checked out.

One aim of the NHS Long Term Plan is that 75% of cancers will be diagnosed at an early stage. This can be achieved through targeted screening and personalised surveillance of those most at risk of developing cancer, such as those with Lynch syndrome.

The SWAG Cancer Alliance are part of the National Colon Capsule Endoscopy pilot (CCE). A new innovative test introduced by NHS England as an alternative to the traditional colonoscopy.

The SWAG Cancer Alliance are part of the National Cytosponge pilot a new diagnostic test introduced by NHS England to identify conditions such as Barrett’s oesophagus – a condition that can increase a person’s risk of developing oesophageal (food pipe or gullet) cancer.

About SWAG Cancer Alliance

We are responsible for leading the local delivery of the national cancer strategy which sets an exciting vision for the transformation of cancer services.

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Latest news

Bowel Cancer screening program poster

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

April 1, 2025

Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer but if diagnosed at the earliest stages, bowel cancer is treatable and curable. For cancer screening to be effective, it is…

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Pancreatic Cancer Case Finding

March 26, 2025

In recent years, we have witnessed the first sustained rise in early cancer diagnoses in over a decade, and we are committed to continually exploring innovative ways to build on…

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Increasing Cancer Awareness for the Chinese speaking community

March 25, 2025

On 10th March, the Increasing Cancer Awareness for the Chinese speaking community event was held in Bath. This was a collaboration between the Chinese Community Wellbeing Society (CCWS) and SWAG…

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World Cancer Day – Macmillan Event Today in Westminster

February 4, 2025

  Our lead cancer nurse, Chris Levett and other lead cancer nurses and CNS’s across SWAG are attending a Macmillan event today in Westminster to mark World Cancer Day. BBC…

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Events

SWAG Cancer Alliance Members Events