[1] In 2011 she was diagnosed with desmoplastic small-round-cell tumor (DSRCT), a type of sarcoma, and subsequently started the "#hellomynameis" campaign encouraging healthcare staff to introduce themselves to patients.

Originally from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire,[2] Granger studied at the University of Edinburgh, obtaining a BSc in Pharmacology in 2002 and an MB ChB in 2005.

[2][4] She described how the news that her condition was incurable was broken to her: If you can put yourself in my position – I'm 29 years old, I know I've got cancer, I think it's confined to my abdomen so I'm expecting to have an operation, maybe some chemotherapy and possibly a cure.

I am a little bit psychologically scarred by that experience.Granger was the subject the second ever Dying Matters Annual Lecture 2014, with a filmed conversation with Granger.

[10] It was intended to encourage healthcare staff to introduce themselves to patients, following her experiences that she discussed in her book The Other Side.

[15] Granger donated proceeds from the sales of her two books, and sponsored events such as a tandem skydiving jump, to cancer research.

These annual awards are in honour of Granger to "recognise an individual, team or organisation that has made a positive difference to patient care".

[17] Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society launched the European Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care in 2018.

[20] Granger was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for services to the NHS and improving care.