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Oct 01

You can play Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s giant Snakes and Ladders game this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By Announcements, Awareness and Early Diagnosis

A super-size version of Snakes and Ladders is coming to Hull, Bridlington, Scunthorpe, Scarborough and York this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, helping Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance to smash taboos and raise awareness of the importance of breast screening.  

By taking part in the immersive experience and walking around the board as their own lifesize counter, people will learn about the barriers and facilitators to attending an NHS breast screening appointment via large playing cards. 

It’s hoped the 3 metre x 3 metre board game, taking centre stage at the Cancer Alliance’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month engagement sessions, will start life-saving conversations and address the fears surrounding breast cancer. Find out where you can play the game. 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Around 11,400 women die from breast cancer in the UK every year. It is the fourth biggest cancer killer in the UK, and the second biggest cause of cancer death in women.  However, 46.3% of women invited for a mammogram for the first time do not attend a screening appointment. 

The Cancer Alliance worked in partnership with researcher Emily Lunn from Hull York Medical School (HYMS) to create this innovative take on an old family favourite, which received funding from Yorkshire Cancer Research.  

Emily said: “There are many challenges people face when thinking about attending breast screening. For some, it’s not as easy as just turning up for their mammogram because of various factors. The aim of this game is to start a conversation, while raising awareness of breast screening. 

“This game is not just for women aged 50-70 who are invited for breast screening, it is for everyone. We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about breast screening openly. We also want to highlight there are ways to overcome some of the challenges, and for them to raise awareness of breast screening with the women in their own lives.” 

Cancer Alliance volunteers will be on hand at the engagement sessions to discuss breast cancer, the symptoms and how to check your body for signs of the disease. 

The Cancer Alliance’s #getintouchwithyourself campaign runs throughout October and is aimed at women who are reluctant to attend breast screening appointments, particularly for the first time.  

 

Sonia Bowers, 50, from Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, is a member of the Cancer Alliance Patient and Public Representative Group. She was diagnosed with breast cancer last October, and identifies with first-time breast cancer screening invitees who can be less likely to attend or make a screening appointment. 

“I totally get it – modern life is so busy, and when we reach the age for breast screening, we’re so busy caring about others, like children, grandchildren and elderly parents, that we forget to look after ourselves,” Sonya said. 

“And even if we do have any free time, we might not want to spend it at a breast screening appointment. My mother, who had lung cancer, told me that breast screening was painful. So I skipped two appointment invites. 

“In October 2023, I found a lump while self-checking. I went to see my GP and was referred to hospital within a fortnight. After undergoing chemotherapy and five rounds of radiotherapy, I’m free of cancer.  

“Think about all those people you care for, and how they’d feel if you left it too late to be screened. For a couple of minutes of discomfort – the time it takes to make a cuppa – you could have peace of mind. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the greater the chance of survival.” 

Dr Marcia Pathak, from Raj Medical Centre in Grimsby, is also keen for people to get in touch with themselves. She said: “Keep an eye out for these symptoms: 

 – lumps or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit 

– a change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling or redness 

– Has one or both of your breasts changed shape? Or has the side of your chest changed in size? 

– Also, look out for nipple discharge (if you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it, or a change in the shape or look of a nipple, or a rash on it  

– and check for sores or ulcers on your chest too.”  

 Breast cancer awareness will be spread across the Cancer Alliance’s social media channels too, using the hashtag #getintouchwithyourself. Follow the Cancer Alliance on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to help share their messages.  

 If you or a loved one needs information on, or support for breast cancer, visit the Cancer Alliance website to be signposted to local breast cancer support groups.  You can also help the Cancer Alliance by completing surveys on cancer experience of care, and attitudes to cancer. 

Visit the Cancer Alliance’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month page to find out more.   

Sep 02

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance announces nominees for Excellence in Cancer Awards 2024

By Announcements

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance is pleased to announce the nominees for its inaugural Excellence in Cancer Awards.

The awards were launched in June to celebrate the people working in cancer services in Humber and North Yorkshire for their hard work, innovation and unwavering commitment to deliver the best care for patients possible in the region.

A total of 55 nominations were received in the four award categories: clinical leadership; championing the patient voice; going the extra mile; and quality improvement and innovation.

In the coming weeks the list of nominees will be whittled down into a shortlist per category.

The award winners will be announced at the Cancer Alliance’s annual conference at the Lakeside Conference Centre, York Biotech Campus, in York on Thursday, 19 September.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

 

Going the Extra Mile

Amethyst outpatient clinics staff – Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

Gemma Brunsdon, Tania Hicks and Claire Walker from the Macmillan personalised care and information and support team – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Michelle Clark

Dr Senthilkumar Durairaj

Sharon Edwards

Deena El-Sharief

Dr Rebecca Hector

Mark Hughes and the Humber, Yorkshire, Coast bowel cancer screening programme team

Emma Lewin

Mariya Nicolova

Oncology and haematology day treatment unit – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Oncology SACT CNS team – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Lesley Peacock and the Humberside breast cancer screening programme team

Pharmacy aseptic team – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Jenny Pyatt

Nicola Robson

Sarah Ross

Laura Trout

Claire Whitehead and the Harrogate, Leeds and York bowel cancer screening programme team

Sarah York and Sandie Dolben

 

Quality Improvement and Innovation

Auos Al-Dujaily

Suzanne Anderson

Doly Baby

Hannah Baker

Kate Blee

Dr Elaine Boland

Debbie Brian and the North Yorkshire breast cancer screening programme team

Oliver Byass and the rapid diagnostic service team – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Chemocare project team (nursing and pharmacy) – York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Charlotte Ellis

Ruth Gibson

Colm Gough

Amber Gratton

Jennifer Guobadia

Gynaecology cancer pathway team – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Dr Mark Hajjawi

Farzana Haque

Macmillan lung cancer nurse specialist team – York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Anthony Maravayas

Sophie Milner

Gillian Moy

Aneta Neumann

Lesley Peacock and the Humber breast cancer screening programme team

Karen Quail

SACT electronic scheduling implementation team – York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sarah Scargill

Lucy Turner

Unsuspected pulmonary embolism pathway team – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Urology and radiology teams – Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

 

Clinical Leadership

Gavin Anderson

Tracey Doherty

Stephanie Hatcliffe

Pam Parker

Jenny Piper

 

Championing the Patient Voice

Sharon Edwards

Colm Gough

Emily Johnson

Helen Roberts

Claire Swatman

 

Aug 19

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance announces Innovation Grant winners

By Cancer Diagnosis and Innovations, Patient experience of care

An at-home chemotherapy service, a clinic for Vulvovaginal Atrophy (a common post-treatment late effect for women with Breast, Gynaecological and some Colorectal cancers) and a project which uses virtual reality (VR) to reduce anxiety in young cancer patients are among the inaugural winners of Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s Cancer Innovation Grants programme. 

In April 2024, the Cancer Alliance launched its first-ever Cancer Innovation Grants programme, setting aside £400,000 to fund a wide variety of projects to improve early cancer detection or improve treatment or recovery for cancer patients in Humber and North Yorkshire. 

Fast forward three months and the Cancer Innovation Grants, which were created in partnership with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber and the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, have proved particularly popular – with 47 applications received totalling a whopping £1.4million. 

Applications came from a wide variety of backgrounds and sectors, ranging from small, grassroots projects to large-scale innovation schemes. 

A panel was appointed to decide which projects would receive funding and therefore be able to bring their concept to fruition. The panel awarded funding of differing amounts to 12 innovation projects. 

Where possible, those who were not successful in securing funding are being supported to bring their projects to life through collaborative opportunities offered by the Cancer Alliance and its partners. 

Jo Bramall, Pharmacy Technical Services Manager at York Hospital, and part of the winning team behind the at-home chemotherapy service, said: “Being awarded the grant is an incredible achievement for us. It is a real validation of the team’s hard work and vision. With this funding we aim to empower patients to administer their own subcutaneous chemotherapy at home. Our hope is that this innovation will enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and make treatment more accessible.” 

Dr Jenny Ormerod, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Castle Hill Hospital, said about her winning project: “We are really excited to have received an award for our project, which will test the application and use of virtual reality technology within a Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) cancer unit at Castle Hill. We hope that the use of VR will support patients to manage anxiety about treatment procedures; provide distraction, stress management and a way to reduce isolation.” 

Nabil El-Mahdawi, Consultant in Clinical Oncology at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said about his team’s winning grant to open a first-of-its-kind Vulvovaginal Atrophy (VVA) late effects clinic: “We hope this clinic provides female cancer survivors in our region affected by VVA as a result of their cancer treatments easier access to the expertise they require to improve their quality of life.” 

Dr Kartikae Grover, Clinical Director, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “The fact that the Cancer Alliance was inundated with entries worth a value totalling more than three times the allocated funding amount is testament to the important role innovation can play in improving health and care services using the finite resources at our disposal.  

“The Cancer Innovation Grants are an excellent opportunity to develop our local culture of innovation through adopting and developing new ideas, which have a positive impact on patient experience and outcomes and the local cancer system.  

“Everyone at the Cancer Alliance is looking forward to seeing these projects develop from the concept stage and deliver real benefit to cancer patients in Humber and North Yorkshire.” 

Details of the 12 winners: 

  • Administering at-home chemotherapy treatment  
  • An ambulatory chemotherapy service 
  • A clinic for vulva-vaginal atrophy – the first of its kind in the country 
  • Using VR technology with young people with cancer 
  • A cancer and rehabilitation café based in Selby, North Yorkshire 
  • An initiative to increase bowel screening take-up in 11 GP practices in Hull 
  • A project aimed to increase cancer screening take-up among people with learning disabilities in East Riding of Yorkshire 
  • Increasing screening and health check-up rates among people with serious mental health conditions in the Scarborough and Ryedale area 
  • Cancer education classes for people with learning disabilities in North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire 
  • Initiative to improve further ovarian cancer diagnosis  
  • A clinic to support people with lung cancer and/or breathlessness from Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities in North Yorkshire 
  • A service to support people with cancer-related fatigue 

For more information about the Cancer Alliance’s Innovations Grants initiative, please visit: www.hnycanceralliance.org.uk/innovationgrants. 

Apr 24
Nurse putting patient into CT Scanner for Lung Check

Most deprived communities more likely to receive early lung cancer diagnosis thanks to NHS trucks

By Awareness and Early Diagnosis, Lung Health Checks, National Campaigns

People in deprived areas are now more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at an earlier stage, thanks to the success of NHS lung trucks.

For the first time ever, new data shows more than a third of people diagnosed with lung cancer from the most deprived fifth of England were diagnosed at stage one or two in 2022 (34.5%) – up from 30% in 2019.

Lung MOTs, located in mobile trucks in supermarket carparks, launched in 2018 in areas of the country with the lowest lung cancer survival rates – and they have already made an impact on earlier diagnoses.

As part of the biggest programme to improve earlier cancer detection in health history, the NHS has now teamed up with the Roy Castle Lung Foundation on a new campaign encouraging the hundreds of thousands of people who are invited each month to take up the potentially lifesaving scan.

The campaign will be running over the coming months across social media, through online advertising and on posters in areas where lung checks are operating.

More than 300,000 (313,387) people have already taken up the offer and the trucks have diagnosed more than 1,750 (1,779) people with lung cancer. Over three-quarters (76%) were caught at stage one or two, compared with just a third caught at early stages in 2018.

People diagnosed with lung cancer at the earliest stage are nearly 20 times more likely to survive for five years than those whose cancer is caught late.

Now at 43 sites across the country, the mobile trucks scan those most at risk from lung cancer, including current and ex-smokers, inviting them for an on-the-spot chest scan for those at the highest risk. Advice to help people stop smoking is also provided to those who attend.

Cancer survival is at an all-time high in England and the latest data shows the NHS is diagnosing more patients with cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, when it is easier to treat – over 100,000 (104,012) patients were diagnosed with cancer at stages one or two when it is easier to treat – the highest proportion on record.

National Director for Cancer, Dame Cally Palmer, said: “These findings are incredibly important – they show the power behind targeted health programmes with the NHS continuing its drive to detect cancers earlier by going into the heart of communities that may be less likely to come forward.

“While early diagnosis rates for cancer have traditionally been lower for deprived groups, thanks to the rollout of lung trucks, the NHS has turned a huge corner – and is now finding and treating those who would otherwise have been undetected.

“The NHS will not stop in its efforts to go out and find more cancers at an earlier point, when easier to treat, so if you have had an invite, please take it up, and as ever, if you are showing any signs of cancer, please come forward to your GP – getting checked could save your life”.

Health Minister Helen Whately said: “Catching lung cancer early saves lives, which is why we’re prioritising early diagnosis for those most at risk.

“These figures show how care closer to home for 300,000 people, using NHS lung trucks, has potentially saved over 1,750 lives.

“We’re laser-focused on fighting cancer on all fronts – prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, backed up with funding and research – and alongside these mobile trucks we have also opened 100 community diagnostic centres, which have delivered over 3.6 million additional tests, checks and scans, including lung checks”.

Chief Executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Paula Chadwick, said: “It is truly heartening to see the wonderful progress being made in the early detection of lung cancer because of the targeted lung health check programme and these checks are allowing us to get ahead of lung cancer for the first time, catching the disease at the earliest opportunity, often before symptoms even start, and treating it with an aim to cure.

“So many people have already benefitted from having a lung health check but there are also a lot of people who have been invited and not taken up the opportunity, so I urge anyone who receives an invitation to have the check – even if you feel well, even if you have no symptoms, even if you’re convinced there’s nothing wrong! You have been invited for a reason and when it comes to lung cancer, it is always best to check”.

Smoking causes more than seven in ten lung cancer cases in the UK. Previous trials have shown that CT screening reduced lung cancer mortality by 26% in men and between 39% and 61% in women.

Not only do the lung trucks scan for cancer, but they have also identified thousands of people with other undiagnosed conditions including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, enabling them to access the treatment they need earlier, and helping to prevent potential hospitalisations.

Thanks to awareness campaigns and early diagnosis drives, the NHS has been seeing and treating record numbers of people for cancer, with over 2.8 million getting checked for cancer in 2022, and over 320,000 people received treatment for cancer in the same year – up on 2.35 million checks and 8,000 treatments in the same period before the pandemic.

The NHS has also made considerable strides in bringing down the 62-day wait cancer backlog with 4,868 fewer people (19,027) waiting in March 19 compared to the same period the month before (23,874).

The main symptoms of lung cancer include:

  • a cough that does not go away after three weeks
  • a long-standing cough that gets worse
  • chest infections that keep coming back
  • coughing up blood
  • an ache or pain when breathing or coughing
  • persistent breathlessness
  • persistent tiredness or lack of energy
  • loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

The Lung Health Checks are now available in North East Lincolnshire. For more information on the Targeted Lung Health Check programme in the Humber and North Yorkshire region please visit www.lunghealthchecks.org.uk.

Nurse putting patient into CT scanner for Lung Health Check

 

 

 

A patient about to have their lungs checked

Mar 06
picture of one of the mobile scanning units for lung health checks. Large lorry type vehicle with steps at the side

Thousands more people in Humber and North Yorkshire to be checked for lung cancer every year – thanks to £1.1m investment in new CT scanner

By Awareness and Early Diagnosis, Lung Health Checks

An extra 7,000 people in Humber and North Yorkshire could receive potentially life-saving lung scans every year, following the acquisition of another CT scanning unit by partners working together to deliver the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme in the region.

The addition of a second CT scanner was made possible after NHS England and NHS Improvement awarded more than £1.1million to the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme in Humber and North Yorkshire, an area which includes Hull, East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, York and North Yorkshire.

The CT scanning unit will be used to check the health of people’s lungs as part of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme, which recently launched in North East Lincolnshire and has been running in Hull for approximately two years. The programme will be rolled out in other parts of Humber and North Yorkshire in the coming years.

The acquisition of an extra CT scanner will increase the diagnostic capacity of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme in Humber and North Yorkshire, from around 7,000 lung health check scans per year to 14,000 scans per year, meaning people in our region can be checked sooner for conditions such as lung cancer, which often does not have any obvious symptoms in the early stages.

The NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme invites people aged 55 – 74 who smoke or used to smoke and are registered with a local GP for a free Lung Health Check.

The screening consists of a telephone assessment and if necessary a low-dose CT scan and helps to identify potential lung problems, including lung cancer, at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat. The CT scans take place on a mobile scanning unit in the community, such as a supermarket car park or sports stadium, and only take 30 seconds to complete.

Dr Stuart Baugh, Clinical Director for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “The addition of a second CT scanner is a timely boost to the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme in Humber and North Yorkshire as it will help us to potentially diagnose lung conditions in more people at an early stage – when treatment is likely to be more successful and straightforward.

“Community screening of this nature plays a huge part in the early detection of conditions such as lung cancer, which often has no symptoms in the early stages. By picking up problems earlier they can be easier to treat and can increase people’s chances of survival.”

Dr Kanwal Tariq, Consultant in Chest Medicine at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “It’s no exaggeration to say that for some people, the Lung Health Check has potentially been a life saver, and we are proud to have been leading such a proactive and forward-thinking initiative right here in Hull.

“We are keen to continue to play that central role in the delivery of Lung Health Checks further afield now that capacity is set to increase, and we look forward to seeing the new unit up in running in the near future.”

Visit the Cancer Alliance’s website to find out more about the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check programme in Humber and North Yorkshire.

Nov 02

Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2021 results published

By Personalised Care

The 2021 results of the Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (U16 CPES) have been published.

The U16 CPES measures experiences of tumour and cancer care for children across England. The survey is now in its second year.

The survey’s respondents are children who were aged between eight and 15 at the point of discharge, and parents or carers of children aged up to 15.

Children from the Humber and North Yorkshire area tend to receive cancer care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

From a national perspective, some of the findings were:

  • 9.01 out of 10 was the average parent/carer rating of the overall experience of their child’s care
  • 89% of parents/carers rated the overall experience of their child’s care as 8 or more out of 10.
  • 95% of children report being looked after very well or quite well, with less than 1% saying they were not looked after well.

You can view the results by visiting Under 16 Cancer Patient Experience Survey website.

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