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Cancer Champions

Feb 18

Championing conversations about cancer

By Awareness and Early Diagnosis, Cancer Champions

Having recently taken part in Cancer Champion training, Beccy Suddes quickly put what she had learned into practice by engaging in conversations that would help raise cancer awareness with her family and friends.

Within a week, Beccy and her three daughters had signed up to the Coppafeel text reminder service and conversed about how to spot the early signs and symptoms of cancer. Beccy said:

“Since attending my training session with Sarah at Haxby last week, I have signed my three daughters, 22, 20 and 19, and myself up to the Coppafeel text reminder service and tweeted Oddballs to find out if their Self check app will be available on iOS so that my son and hubby can sign up.  They said it would hopefully be available soon and in the meantime, I have got the boys to agree to check themselves when I remind them when I get my reminder.

“I love to talk to people and will use the information from my Cancer Champion training to help make talking about cancer and spotting the early signs part of normal family conversations.”

Cancer Champion training sessions teach people about the key facts, statistics, symptoms and screenings which are linked to a number of cancers. Click here to reserve your place on an upcoming session or to find out more about the Cancer Champion programme.

Click here to register for Coppafeel text reminder service.

Click here to view the OddBalls guide to checking yourself for testicular cancer.

 

Feb 13

York Racecourse staff become Cancer Champions ahead of Alliance Conference

By Cancer Champions

Staff at York Racecourse have taken part in two Cancer Champion training sessions ahead of the Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance Conference next month.

Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance are hosting their first annual conference at York Racecourse on Thursday 5th March and staff were invited to attend free Cancer Champion training in preparation for the event.

The free training sessions taught staff at York Racecourse about the key facts, symptoms and screenings which are linked to a number of cancers and those who took part in the training will be wearing their Cancer Champion badges at the conference next month.

Cancer Champions raise awareness about cancer in their work place or community by engaging with people in conversation and encouraging others to take up cancer screening invitations or go to their GP if they have symptoms they are worried about.

Louise Daly, Commercial Manager at York Racecourse said: “Thanks to Sarah for the training at York Racecourse.  The delivery was superb and the content was extremely useful, informative and even surprising in parts. If only every human being could go through the training.”

Click here to find out more about Cancer Champion training, reserve your place on an upcoming session or book free training for a voluntary group or organisation.

Click here to register for the Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance Conference.

 

Jan 27

Raising Awareness: Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

By Awareness and Early Diagnosis, Cancer Champions

The 20th – 26th of January was Cervical Cancer Prevention week, an initiative set-up by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance used Cervical Cancer Prevention Week as an opportunity to go out and about across our area raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.

Community Displays
We went out into the community and talked to people about the importance of taking up cervical screening invitations and booking their smear test at their GPs. We also wanted to understand the reason why women didn’t always take up their appointments.

Reasons, which included not having someone to look at their children, whilst they went for their screening appointment.  We talked to local nurseries who offered free childcare for those who needed it in order to attend.

Training Sessions

Our Cancer Champion team delivered awareness training sessions at a number of schools and colleges and also visited community venues to talk about cervical cancer and HPV.

Raising Awareness Online
We also ran a week long social media campaign to #endsmearfear and #smearforsmear providing information and advice for those worried about making an appointment and breaking the myths of cervical cancer and screening.

Time to Test

We were delighted that three employers across our area signed up to Jo’s Trust’s Time to Test pledge – Vale of York CCG, Unity Health and Photo My Product which encourages employees to attend their cervical screening appointment by giving them time to test. 

All three organisations extended the time to test pledge to bowel and breast screening.

All women aged 25 to 49 are offered a cervical screening test every three years, with those aged 50 to 64 are offered screening every five years.

What are the signs and symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

You should visit your doctor if you notice any of the following signs:

  • Bleeding between periods
  • Bleeding during or after sex
  • Bleeding after you have been through the menopause
  • Any unpleasant vaginal discharge
  • Discomfort or pain during sex

These symptoms may also be signs of other common conditions and do not necessarily mean you have cancer, but should always be checked.

How can you reduce your risk of cervical cancer?
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust wants to ensure that all women and people with a cervix know how cervical cancer can be reduced. This means:

  • Attending cervical screening when invited
  • Knowing the symptoms of cervical cancer and seeking medical advice if experiencing any
  • Taking up the HPV vaccination if aged 11-18
  • Knowing where to find support and further information
Jun 13

Staff from East Riding Leisure become Cancer Champions

By Cancer Champions

Members of staff from East Riding Leisure Centres become Cancer Champions ahead of a new swim session pilot for people affected by cancer.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has introduced a two month swim session pilot aimed solely at people who are living with and beyond cancer. The private swim sessions are part of the council’s one year cancer awareness campaign and will take place at Francis Scaife, South Holderness and Withernsea Leisure Centres from May until July.

In support of the campaign, Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance has provided Cancer Champion training to staff from the three leisure centres ahead of the pilot sessions.  The Cancer Champion programme is designed to equip and empower individuals with the knowledge needed to raise awareness about cancer in their community. The free half day training is available to anyone and teaches key messages about prevention, screening and early diagnosis.  Cancer Champions are also encouraged to promote healthy lifestyle choices to others and to signpost people to access local services and visit their GP promptly with any concerns where appropriate.

Sam Taylor from Francis Scaife Leisure Centre attended the training and said, “A lot of people are affected by cancer and by becoming a Cancer Champion I now feel confident to share helpful information and advice with others as well as knowing more signs and symptoms of cancer.”

Timetable of swim sessions:

East Riding Leisure Francis Scaife Tuesdays from 1-2pm

East Riding Leisure South Holderness Thursdays from 3.15-4.15pm

East Riding Leisure Withernsea Tuesdays and Fridays from 2-3pm

To find out more about Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Champion Programme or to sign up for Cancer Champion training, email [email protected].

To find out more information about cancer awareness, visit www.eastridinghealthandwellbeing.co.uk

To become involved in the council’s one-year cancer awareness campaign as a case study or a supporter, email [email protected] or call (01482) 391444.

Jun 13

1000 and counting: Cancer Champion volunteer training programme reaches milestone

By Cancer Champions

The Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance recruited its 1,000th Cancer Champion on Monday (29th April), as supermarket chain Asda hosted a training event at its Mount Pleasant store community hub in east Hull.

Almost 20,000 people in the Humber, Coast and Vale area are diagnosed with cancer each year; a rate significantly higher than the England average. With research showing that 4 in 10 cancers are preventable, over 1,000 Cancer Champions now have the knowledge to raise awareness about early signs and symptoms, promote healthy lifestyle choices and increase uptake of screening in their communities. The free training supports people to openly talk about cancer with their friends and family, which could minimise the risk of cancer and improve survival rates by helping those with cancer get diagnosed and treated earlier.

Lucy Turner, Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance Programme Director, said: “This is a real milestone for the Cancer Alliance and I would like to thank each of the 1,000 champions who have given up their time to attend a Cancer Alliance training session.

“As a society, we are in a better position to fight cancer than ever before. Cancer Champions are a key part of our strategy to share knowledge across our communities.  We know that up to 40 per cent of cancers are preventable through lifestyle changes. We also know that cancers that have been diagnosed at an early stage, before they have had the chance to get too big or spread, are more likely to be treated successfully.

“I am proud to call myself a Cancer Champion.  I want to join my fellow champions to use our passion, training and knowledge to work within our communities to support those at risk of developing cancer as well as helping to prevent avoidable cancer deaths by encouraging people to take up cancer screening invitations or go to their GP if they have symptoms they are worried about.”

Sarah Cranswick, Community Colleague at Asda Mount Pleasant, said: “We would love to see more of the Cancer Champion training at ASDA and look forward to working closely with Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance in the future.”

To find out more about Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Champion Programme or to sign up for Cancer Champion training, email [email protected].

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