Rural Communities Cancer Project

FCN survey - cancer in farming and rural communities

The Farming Community Network (FCN) (Registered Charity No.1095919) is working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to raise awareness of cancer in farming and rural communities, and to improve the support available to people living with cancer. By taking the time to fill in this survey, you are helping us to better understand current service provisions in rural areas, whilst recommending areas for improvement. All are welcome to fill in this survey, whether you have personally had a cancer diagnosis or not.

This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to fill in. All information provided will be kept confidential.

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey.
1.Which of the following applies to you?
2.Please tick the option(s) below that apply to you.
3.Where in the UK do you live?
4.What age group are you in?
5.Out of 5, how easy is it to make a GP appointment within a time frame that you feel reasonable for the severity of your illness/injury? (1 being very difficult – 5 being very easy)
Very difficult
Average
Very easy
6.What do you feel are the barriers/challenges to accessing healthcare for farmers and people who live within the wider rural community?
7.Do you have any personal barriers to accessing healthcare you would be comfortable sharing?
8.Have you or a family member ever been diagnosed with cancer? Tick all that apply (if 'no', please go to question 16)
9.If you / a family member has been diagnosed with cancer, what was / is your main concern(s)?

This could be physical, practical, emotional, family or relationships, spiritual, information and support concerns or any other concerns you may have had / still have.
10.Out of 5, how would you rate the cancer care, from diagnosis through to treatment and beyond, in your local area? (1 being not very good – 5 being very good)
Not very good
Average
Very good
N/A
11.How far did you / your family have to travel to access appointments / treatment?
12.Were Macmillan Cancer Support involved in any way in your cancer care?
13.If you answered 'Yes' to question 12, did you find Macmillan services easy to access living in a farming / rural community?
14.If you have accessed Macmillan services, do you feel there are any ways in which they could improve their services to support farmers and those in rural communities?
15.If you did not access Macmillan services, do you feel there are any ways in which Macmillan could improve access to / awareness of their services to support you, farmers and those in rural communities to access their services?
16.If applicable to you, do you have regular screening for cancer?
17.What do you feel needs to be done to improve healthcare provision in rural areas?
18.Do you have any other feedback about healthcare and cancer provision for those working in farming or living within the rural community?
19.If you have had a cancer diagnosis, would you be comfortable sharing your story with FCN? If so, please provide your name, contact email / phone number and the county you live in below. A representative of FCN will be in touch.
20.As part of this project we are hoping to improve awareness of cancer and Macmillan's services in farming / rural communities. FCN would like to reach out to you in late 2025 to see if you feel there has been an improvement in awareness in your area. If you would be comfortable with FCN contacting you, please leave your email address below and the county you are based in. A representative of FCN will be in touch.