World Cancer Day
’We can help you talk about cancer’ is the message from the local NHS as the global World Cancer Day approaches.
The annual awareness day, on Friday 4 February, focuses on cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. The theme this year is to ‘close the gap’ so that awareness and understanding of cancer is equitable for all – no matter who you are or where you live. The campaign also reminds us of the role we can play to reduce the impact of cancer, not only for ourselves, but others too.
Empowering communities to become cancer aware is a priority for NHS East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and on World Cancer Day, they are also celebrating the three year anniversary of their awareness campaign, Cancel Out Cancer.
Started by the CCG in 2018, the Cancel Out Cancer programme aims to improve people’s awareness and understanding of cancer. In particular, the programme emphasises the critical relationship between early diagnosis and saving lives – a message that is central to the ambitions in the NHS Long Term plan. It is supported by MacMillan Cancer Support.
The one-hour virtual sessions are run by NHS volunteers and are free to attend. The interactive sessions provide information on screening programmes, advice on identifying possible signs and symptoms of cancer, and encourage anyone concerned about possible cancer to speak to their GP.
Everyone is invited to join a Cancel Out Cancer session, and to encourage their friends, family, neighbours and colleagues to join in too.
Joy Hale, Public Engagement Manager at the CCG, said: ‘This is a great way to become aware of cancer for you, your family and friends. Participants tell us they learn an awful lot that they just hadn’t considered before, and we hope it encourages more people to attend screening appointments, such as for cervical smears. It also covers the small lifestyle changes we can all consider making to help reduce cancer risks.’
Justin Jewitt, an NHS volunteer presenter, said: ‘Our key phrase is ‘spotting cancer early’; early presentation of symptoms to your GP could be lifesaving. Knowledge is power and that’s what we intend to give every attendee on the Cancel Out Cancer presentation – power to help yourself and others by knowing more about cancer.’
Sessions for the public are held on the second Monday of every month at 6pm, and in recognition of World Cancer Day an additional session will be hosted at 2pm on 4 February. Anyone from Hertfordshire or west Essex is invited to attend, with more information on how to sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/179776956717.
More information about Cancel Out Cancer and how to join other sessions is at: www.enhertsccg.nhs.uk/cancel-out-cancer.
Changes to your body’s normal processes or unusual, unexplained symptoms can sometimes be an early sign of cancer.
Symptoms that need to be checked by a doctor include:
- a lump that suddenly appears on your body
- unexplained bleeding
- changes to your bowel habits.
Even though it’s unlikely to be cancer, you should always speak to your GP if you’ve noticed changes to your body. There is more guidance on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/symptoms.