DETECT CANCER EARLY. NewsleTTer. ISSUe 7

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1 DETECT CANCER EARLY NewsleTTer. ISSUe 7 NHS WESTERN ISLES. Over 2,000 women in the Western Isles have attended their breast screening appointments in Lewis this year, since the breast screening unit arrived in Stornoway in January. This equates to a 86.26% attendance rate. NHS Western Isles, in partnership with the Lewis and Harris Breast Cancer Support Group (LHBCSG), is continuing to encourage women in the Western Isles to attend their breast screening appointments, stressing the life-saving role that screening plays. All women in the Western Isles aged between 50 and 70 receive a breast screening appointment at the mobile unit. Those unable to attend their scheduled appointment for any reason are being urged to contact Breast Screening Centre as soon as possible so that their appointment can be rescheduled, and so that their original appointment slot is not wasted. The breast screening team visits the Western Isles every three years, so it is important that women attend their appointment, where possible. NHS Western Isles is stressing that, alongside self-checking, breast screening plays a vital role in detecting cancer at an early stage before symptoms become noticeable; and is particularly important as breast cancer is more common in women aged over 50. Pictured are members of the Lewis and Harris Breast Cancer Support Group, with staff from the Co-op in Stornoway, during a breast screening awareness event on a Saturday morning. Also in the photo is the new Western Isles breast cancer awareness boat, the Pink Lady which is being used to help raise awareness. Maggie Fraser Communications Manager NHS Western Isles

2 NHS FORTH VALLEY. BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS TRAINING SESSIONS. To increase the uptake of bowel screening in Forth Valley members of the public were asked to identify issues or barriers in relation to doing the screening test. Three main reasons identified were: 1. A lack of awareness of the screening test. 2. Lack of knowledge about the importance of signs and symptoms and that early treatment was life saving. 3. Practical issues of doing the test. The last issue was the most talked about. The NHS Forth Valley Health Promotion Service developed a training toolkit based on the findings to help address the above issues. 21 volunteers from community groups across Forth Valley were recruited and trained to deliver a two hour session to organisations and groups. The training was designed to be fun and interactive as well as getting clear messages across in a safe environment. Comments from people who attended the training: Thought your talk was great and so far you are the only speaker to get us up off our chairs and active! Information was very good even though I and others have participated in the screening the other digestive route etc was very informative. Pre and post evaluations conducted revealed that awareness was increased and people would be more likely to do the test and more importantly all would discuss with family and friends. From left: Elaine Cochrane Health Promotion officer, Rhona Denham Health Promotion officer, Shirley Hamilton Senior Health Promotion officer. Shirley Hamilton Senior Health Promotion officer NHS Forth Valley

3 NHS AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN. BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS FOR FOOTIE FANS. NHS Ayrshire & Arran s Detect Cancer Early team were at Ayr United Football Club on Saturday 29 March and at Kilmarnock Football Club on Saturday 5 March to help raise awareness of bowel cancer among football fans. In the first of a range of activities to support bowel cancer awareness month (April), Health Promotion staff spoke to fans about the importance of detecting bowel cancer at an early stage. For those who wanted to find out more, the team were on hand to provide a range of information about signs and symptoms to look out for and explain how to take the home screening test. Bowel cancer awareness month activities The Detect Cancer Early team were also at Kilmarnock Football Club on Saturday 5 April and visited William Hill bookmakers within Ayrshire throughout April and into May speaking to staff and customers to help raise awareness of bowel cancer. The team were on the road all month, with the following information stands: University Hospital Crosshouse University Hospital Ayr Rivergate Shopping Centre Asda, Ayr Asda, Irvine Tesco, Auchinleck Asda, Girvan Monday 7 April Tuesday 8 April Friday 11 April Saturday 12 April Tuesday 15 April Tuesday 22 April Monday 28 April In addition, information has also been broadcast widely on local radio and the annual bowel screening event took place on Friday 25 April. For more information or to request a test kit call the Bowel Screening Helpline on or go to Gillian Jennings health promotion Officer and Kay Cooper senior health promotion officer along with players from Ayr United Football Team. Kay Cooper Senior Health Promotion Officer NHS Ayrshire and Arran

4 NHS DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY. NHS Dumfries and Galloway s clinicians have featured in a local newspaper article about the importance of paying attention to signs and symptoms of cancer, and about the benefits of early detection. The article, with a background on the Scottish Government DCE Programme, included individual interviews with lead clinicians for breast, bowel and lung cancer. Each clinician was interviewed about signs and symptoms for the respective cancer, the importance of going to your GP as soon as possible with any concerns you may have, and what can be done should you be faced with a cancer diagnosis. The article included a photograph of the clinicians outside the entrance to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, representing a dedicated team of staff who provide cancer care for people across the Dumfries and Galloway region. Grocery shoppers in the region have had a month long reminder of the campaign message Don t Get Scared, Get Checked on their receipts in Morrisons supermarkets. The till roll advertising, also used by other health organisations in the UK for promoting health messages, displayed the DCE generic campaign image of a GP with the key message The Earlier We Find Cancer, The Easier It Is To Treat, and details of the NHS Inform website here and helpline number Kirsten Moffat Communication and Engagement Officer NHS Dumfries and Galloway Breast Cancer Care. Breast Cancer Care Scotland recently launched B-Aware, a high profile campaign aimed at promoting early detection of breast cancer and improving survival rates across the country. The three year campaign is being supported by Chris Weir, who has also become Breast Cancer Care Scotland s first Breast Health Awareness Ambassador. The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the more effective treatment may be and the campaign will target typically hard-to-reach groups where prompt detection rates may be even poorer. This includes women and men with learning difficulties, learning disabilities, mental health issues and people from black and ethnic minority and socially disadvantaged communities. The new breast awareness programme will create a team of trained volunteers called Team B-Aware, recruited from around Scotland who will spread the breast awareness message in their local communities. It s hoped that the programme will encourage more people to come forward as soon as they have a symptom or suspect something is wrong, thus aiming to improve survival rates. Health Secretary Alex Neil said: We know that the earlier cancer is detected and treated, the better the chances of survival. We welcome and support the work of Breast Cancer Care s B-Aware Team, who will raise awareness of cancer in all our communities. This is vital work, supporting our Detect Cancer Early programme, which will help to increase early referral and detection of breast cancer which can really save lives. Potential volunteers should contact: teambaware@breastcancercare.org.uk telephone: Hazel Benza Breast Health Promotion, Training and Support Officer Breast Cancer Care

5 THE SCOTTISH CANCER PREVENTION NETWORK. Taking the opportunity. What do you do when the patient who has been for a scan/colonoscopy/mammogram and all is clear? What do you say if that patient is obese? Or smokes? Or drinks? Or takes very little physical activity? What do you think about teachable moments? Ever heard of health certificate effect? Are you interested in cancer prevention as well as early detection? It is currently estimated that 47% of bowel cancer and 42% of breast cancer is related to diet, being inactive, alcohol and excess body weight. Do you think patients who have asked about their risks and symptoms should know this and how they might be supported to change lifestyles? If you are seeking more information on cancer prevention and resources to support behaviour change activities you might be interested in joining The Scottish Cancer Prevention network ( which is focused on moving evidence on cancer risk reduction into everyday life, practice and policy. Members get four free newsletters per year, access to the annual conference and all social media platforms. For more information contact: Annie Anderson Professor of Public Health and Nutrition University of Dundee The Scottish Cancer Prevention Network

6 TEENAGE CANCER TRUST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DCE. Teenage Cancer Trusts Education & Advocacy team deliver a pioneering education programme throughout the UK, giving over 130,000 young people a year information, education and advice about cancer, prevention and healthy living. This free programme is delivered in schools, colleges and universities and aims to remove the stigma of cancer by including discussions on the signs and symptoms of cancer, its treatment, healthy living and the emotional support issues surrounding the disease. The education programme also aims to empower young people to manage their own health issues, to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing, to evaluate personal choices and make changes if necessary. Research carried out by the University of Stirling found that this intervention is extremely effective in raising awareness of cancer signs and empowering young people to seek help if required. The research also discovered the ripple effect of young people in how they then communicate their learning to peers, younger and older family members, hence increased awareness of cancer and its symptoms across generations. It was this effect and its impact that formed the basis of the partnership. Detect Cancer Early is working with Teenage Cancer Trust and have provided funding to extend the reach of their Education Programme in Scotland, research young people s knowledge of and attitudes to cancer, and further develop their school interventions. Following initial analysis of the new research, the Charity, in partnership with other organisations, is now working on sun safe specific school interventions and plan to roll this out in the next academic year. For more information please contact Iona MacMillan: iona.macmillan@teenagecancertrust.org phone: Iona MacMillan Regional Educational and Advocacy Manager, Scotland Teenage Cancer Trust CANCER TEAM CONTACT DETAILS cancerdeliveryteam@scotland.gsi.gov.uk CANCER. DON T GET SCARED, GET CHECKED.