A cancer clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is a qualified nurse, who has specialist skills and knowledge related to a specific type of tumour or speciality, for example in colorectal cancers, palliative care or oncology.
CNSs work as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) which manages and delivers diagnostics and treatment.
The CNS' primary role is to provide specialist support to patients and their family or carers from the time of diagnosis. This may include:
The National Cancer Plan, launched last month (February), highlights the pivotal role cancer clinical nurse specialists have in supporting people following a cancer diagnosis.
The plan calls for clinical nurse specialists to be more central in workforce models and hospital trusts are to be required to ensure, through new quality standards: 'that every patient has a clinical nurse specialist or other named lead as their primary contact.'
The plan says that from this year (2026) there will be new opportunities that will 'make it easier for newly qualified and experienced nurses to pursue careers in cancer nursing'.
Grants will be prioritised for “clinical nurse specialists to target the areas of highest need.
The Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development (ACCEND) programme will be expanded to provide 'more training opportunities and career pathways for cancer nurses and cancer support staff'.*
*(National Cancer Plan, page 38, Action 23).
The Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance, receives NHS England funding, to support the education, development and training of the cancer workforce in line with ACCEND.
Using a range of learning opportunities, ACCEND provides a definitive career and development pathway for those aspiring to work in cancer care.
ACCEND is underpinned by learning related to the four pillars of professional practice: Clinical practice, leadership and management, research/evidence-based practice and quality improvement and specialist cancer focused education.
The CNS role has become more diverse over time. To support clinicians and oncologists and increase productivity, other senior specialist nurse roles have developed as a result, such as consultant nurses and advanced nurse practitioners.
Macmillan metastatic breast cancer CNS Becky Greene.
Macmillan gynaecology cancer CNS Karen Flannery.
Macmillan metastatic colorectal cancer CNS Karen Hills.
Lead oncology matron Roz Yates on the role of a cancer clinical nurse specialist (CNS).