Prof Amanda Ramirez

Psychological and social aspects of cancer care

Professor Amanda Ramirez directs the Cancer Research UK London Psychosocial Group based at St Thomas' Hospital. Her research focuses on improving the mental wellbeing of both cancer patients and health professionals that provide cancer care. Her group is also carrying out a project to promote early detection of breast cancer to improve survival rates amongst older women with this disease.

Supportive care for cancer patients and health professionals

In 2001 Professor Ramirez was appointed as the NHS National Clinical Lead for Supportive Cancer Care. In this role, she has influenced national policy regarding information and care services available to people with cancer. She currently co-leads COMPASS, a national project investigating ways of identifying, assessing and treating cancer patients' problems most effectively.

Professor Ramirez's group is also concerned with the rise in mental ill health among cancer doctors. The group is researching factors that affect the lives of cancer health professionals to improve their mental wellbeing. This will also have a beneficial effect on the quality of care that doctors and nurses can offer patients.

Promoting early detection of breast cancer

The NHS Breast Cancer Screening Programme has helped to save many lives by identifying women that have early-stage disease. However, women over 70 are not routinely invited for breast screening. Professor Ramirez's research has revealed that breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage in older women. Her group also found that women who delay going to the doctors for more than three months when they have symptoms of breast cancer have poorer survival rates.

Professor Ramirez wants to improve breast cancer survival rates in older women by increasing their knowledge of symptoms and risk factors. Women are also being encouraged to talk to friends and relatives about their concerns and consult their GP as soon as possible.