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Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance

Jul 11

Cancer Alliance drenched in success at the end of NHS 75,000km Challenge

By Announcements

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance staff have completed an ambitious challenge to collectively walk, run, swim or cycle 75,000km during the NHS’s 75th birthday year.

To celebrate the incredible achievement – and the 76th birthday of the NHS – members of the team took part in a very wet and windy walk across the length of the Humber Bridge and back on Tuesday 9th July 2024.

There was more than a fair share of rain on the victory parade, but spirits remained high, and there was a stop for cake and coffee halfway through.

 

The starting pistol of the 75,000k Challenge was fired at Health House in Willerby on Tuesday 4th July 2023. The team used a treadmill and exercise bike in a race against time to clock up a total of 75km in 7.5 hours. They smashed their target in the allotted time, totting up an impressive 183.04km – three times the length of the entire North Yorkshire coastline. The event raised £135 for NHS Charities Together.

Throughout the year, members of the team recorded their Strava results and used their smartphones to track their progress with a Totaliser in Health House. Many in the team are parkrun regulars, which helped hugely, but everyone played their part.

Other special events incorporated into the 75,000km Challenge included Cancer Alliance staff taking part in the Cancer Research UK Shine Night Walk in York on Saturday 30th September 2023. Undaunted by the elements, members of the team walked 10km around the city in the rain, dressed in illuminous outfits, and raised £630 for Cancer Research UK.

The Cancer Alliance achieved its goal ahead of the one-year target. After adding up the team’s kms for week commencing 17th June, their total reached 75,750kms.

Dr Kartikae Grover, Clinical Director of Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “The Cancer Alliance has done remarkably well to achieve 75,000kms in under a year. And in doing so, the team has also highlighted the benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle.

“Whether it’s walking, swimming, cycling, or running, regular exercise can help people to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. That can also lower the risks of 13 different types of cancer, and evidence shows that plenty of exercise can help reduce the risk of bowel and breast cancer in particular.

“People who are living with cancer can also gain positive benefits from taking part in physical activities. They may have fewer side effects and might even recover from the disease quicker. And many forms of exercise bring opportunities to socialise and learn new skills.”

Jul 09

Cancer Alliance and Macmillan Cancer Support present KPOW! (Know the Power of Words)

By Announcements, Stakeholder Updates, Treatment and Pathways

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has funded a new short film which highlights the experiences of people with a cancer diagnosis.  

KPOW! (Know the Power of Words) shines a light on the importance of language used by clinicians during diagnosis and treatment.   

The film, which the Cancer Alliance co-funded with Macmillan Cancer Support, received its premiere at Hull Truck Theatre on Monday 8th July. After the showing, members of the cast and crew took part in a Q & A session with the attendees.

You can now view KPOW! on the Cancer Alliance’s YouTube channel, here.

KPOW! co-stars and was written by North Yorkshire playwright Libby Pearson. In the film, Libby is one of four friends openly discussing experiences of cancer, and how the way medical and nursing staff spoke and acted towards them during their treatment and care had consequences on their emotions.  

The film also stars Allyson Kent, a former NHS worker, who lives in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Allyson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and ovarian cancer in 2020 and is now a Cancer Alliance patient representative. 

In KPOW!, Libby, Allyson, Hannah Coysh and Rosie Hamblyn talk about their hope that negative statements can be reconsidered and reframed to be more sensitive and positive. 

Even common words such as “but”, “however”, “until” and “yet” can affect patients living with cancer. Libby, InkBlot Films and the cast hope that their film can inspire clinicians to take the time to consider how their words and actions can leave a lasting, negative impression on their patients.  

The four friends in KPOW! have all been affected by cancer in different ways. Libby lost her father to cancer, Allyson is living with cancer and is a patient representative for the Cancer Alliance, Hannah is a Macmillan doctor, and Rosie is a cancer survivor.  

As they chat about their feelings, they all reveal a shared desire for words to be delivered with kindness and compassion, using clear explanations and active language, with eye contact.

KPOW! combines humour and poignancy to deliver a very potent message of the need for understanding and respect when living with cancer.  

The film was originally conceived and commissioned as a play by Libby, specially written for a Living with and Beyond Cancer conference organised and facilitated by Macmillan GPs Dr Hannah Coysh and Dr Kate Thomas in June 2023. Although visually different, the concept of the film, directed by Jay Sillence of InkBlot FIlms, remains the same. 

Libby said: “As a theatre-maker specialising in issue-based work – particularly around health and equality – I believe theatre and film are such strong tools in helping people reflect on their own beliefs and behaviour. They can make a huge impact and effect positive change.   

“Making a film was new to almost everyone in the room and the nerves were palpable, but Jay and his team helped transform those nerves into a positive energy that really comes through in the film. Even though the day was long and very tiring, we’d have done it all again the next day.  

“The scenes with Allyson running were fabulous. I scouted the locations and everywhere I turned was a flooded road or a boggy field. Ally and Jay had to negotiate sheep, bogs and tooting cars, but the results are great. Jay, like Ginger Rogers, had to do everything Ally did, but backwards, without the heels! 

“I am hoping that anyone who sees the film, be they health professionals in any role, or those supporting people living with cancer, will consider what they say and how they say it. Think about the impact of words, and truly put the patient at the centre of the conversation.” 

Allyson added: “I worked in the NHS for the whole of my career and am now experiencing life as a patient. Having a cancer diagnosis is life-changing at every level, and words matter. They can give hope or cause real harm. I will never forget those words used that day, and how they made me feel. I am much more sensitive to the words people use now.  

“Normally I’m a very private person, but I want to share my story to make people think about the language they use or how a lack of words impact on patients.” 

On the making of the film, Allyson said: “What an experience! So much behind the scenes work… lighting… fluffing words! The fun of creating something together was an amazing experience and we laughed so much, even though it was a long, long day and we were tired, but we didn’t stop, we didn’t give in.   

“It was an emotional day for me as this is real, this was my story, but I am so proud of what we have achieved.”   

Lucy Turner, Managing Director of Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “We are so proud of Libby’s film, the cast’s performances and Jay’s hard work in making KPOW! The subject matter is very close to our hearts, and we are thrilled that we’ve played a part in the process of highlighting this important issue.  

We hope medical and nursing staff will take on board the words used by Libby, Allyson, Hannah and Rosie, and consider how important the language and actions they use with cancer patients are. They can stay with a patient forever.” 

KPOW! (Know the Power of Words) is now available on the Cancer Alliance YouTube channel, here. Please share across your network, particularly with frontline staff who have clinical and non-clinical contact with patients, including:

  • doctors
  • nurses
  • paramedics
  • social workers
  • care workers
Aug 21

NHS partners with Morrisons in Humber and North Yorkshire to put vital cancer awareness messaging on underwear labels

By Awareness and Early Diagnosis

From today, Morrisons shoppers in Humber and North Yorkshire will find NHS advice on underwear labels urging them to contact their GP practice if they spot potential symptoms of breast or testicular cancer.

The Nutmeg branded underwear featuring NHS advice will be in 240 Morrisons stores nationwide, including in Bridlington, Hull, York, Scarborough, Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe. The labels will first appear in boxer shorts, followed by crop top bras in the coming months.

The NHS guidance will be displayed on the fabric labels alongside the standard sizing and care information. There will also be a QR code on the packaging and tags linking customers through to more detailed information on breast and testicular cancer on the NHS website.

Morrisons is the first UK supermarket to roll out the new labels and this first of its kind partnership for the NHS is the latest move in a significant drive to ensure people are aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer.

If people notice symptoms that could be cancer, they should contact their GP practice and come forward for checks as early as possible so they can get the all clear or, in some cases, a cancer diagnosis sooner to give them the best chance of surviving the disease.

Symptoms of breast cancer can include a lump or change in the look, shape or feel of one or both breasts, while symptoms of testicular cancer can include painless swelling or a lump in one of the testicles or any change in shape or texture of the testicles.

Customers can scan the QR code on the tags to be linked directly to more detailed information on breast and testicular cancer.

National figures show that 91% of women survive for at least five years if diagnosed at the earliest stage of breast cancer, where the tumour is small (stage one), whereas this reduces to 39% where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (stage four). While nearly all men survive testicular cancer, if the cancer has spread, survival for five years or more can reduce to 65%.

Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “This is the first time the whole of the NHS has worked with a national supermarket brand to put health messaging on clothing, with the aim of encouraging thousands more people to be body aware, so they can spot new or unexplained changes that might be cancer symptoms early, and contact their GP practice for checks if concerned.

“Cancer survival is at an all time high survival for both breast and testicular cancers have improved significantly over the last 50 years and we’re seeing more people than ever before diagnosed with cancer at an early stage but we want to continue this progress and this partnership with Morrisons is just one of many ways we are ensuring people are aware of potential cancer symptoms.

“I want to urge everyone to be aware of their own bodies please look out for lumps and bumps or anything else that is unusual for you and get checked out early, it could save your life.”

More people than ever before are being seen and treated by the NHS for cancer in the last year the number of people receiving lifesaving checks for cancer hit nearly three million (2.92m) more than any other year on record. Thanks to extensive NHS campaigns and early diagnosis initiatives, a higher proportion of cancers than ever before were diagnosed at an early stage in the year 2022/2023 – 58% of cancers diagnosed at stage one or two compared to 56% before the pandemic.

The NHS is harnessing the very latest technology and initiatives such as community lung health checks and trials of a blood test that can detect up to 50 cancers before symptoms appear, to diagnose cancer earlier and achieve its goal of diagnosing three quarters of all cancers at stage one or two by 2028.

The NHS is also accelerating the use of innovations like teledermatology for diagnosing skin cancer, which is already seeing some areas double the number of patients seen and speeding up diagnosis and treatment for tens of thousands with skin cancer.

To find your nearest Nutmeg concession please visit, my.morrisons.com/storefinder.

For more information about how NHS England works with partners on national campaigns visit england.nhs.uk/campaign partnerships.

Jul 20

Cancer Alliance welcomes 2022 Cancer Patient Experience Survey results

By Announcements, Personalised Care

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance welcomes the publication of the 2022 Cancer Patient Experience Survey (CPES) results.

Now in its 14th year, the CPES results help organisations that commission and provide cancer services to understand what aspects of cancer services are working well and identify areas for improvement.

The NHS survey asks questions such as how and when the cancer was diagnosed, how involved patients felt in decisions about their care and treatment and how much information and support they were given.

The 2022 CPES survey was completed by 1,994 patients in Humber and North Yorkshire, equating to a response rate of 57%. Nationally, the survey was completed by 61,268 people (53% response rate).

The Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance-area CPES results can be viewed here.

The areas for improvement identified in the 2022 survey across the Humber and North Yorkshire area include:

  • Ensuring patients have a main point of contact within care teams
  • Explaining a cancer diagnosis in a way that patients can completely understand

CPES results are available at trust, Integrated Care System, Cancer Alliance and national level. They can be viewed here.

Lucy Turner, Managing Director, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance welcomes the results of the 2022 national Cancer Patient Experience Survey. There are some encouraging results for our region and also results which identify areas of cancer care which we can improve upon.

“Once the results have been analysed, we will work with our Cancer Alliance partner organisations, including hospital trusts which provide cancer services in our region, to co-develop and implement improvement plans based on the results of this year’s survey.”

Find out more about the survey by visiting the CPES website.

Jun 27

Cancer Alliance welcomes lung screening announcement

By Announcements, Awareness and Early Diagnosis, Lung Health Checks

Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance welcomes the Department of Health and Social Care announcement (Monday, 26th June 2023) that a national targeted lung cancer screening programme will be introduced in the coming years, following the successful delivery of the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme in some parts of the country in recent years.

In Humber and North Yorkshire, the NHS Targeted Lung Health Check Programme has already been established in Hull (early 2020) and North East Lincolnshire (early 2023). There are plans to introduce the service in North Lincolnshire in early 2024 and it is expected that the service will be available in all parts of our region by 2028/29.

Lung cancer prevention is one of the Cancer Alliance’s top priorities – as we have several areas in our region where smoking prevalence is well above the national average. Early detection of lung cancer is key – because often lung cancer is symptomless until it is at an advanced stage.

Click here to view the Department for Health and Social Care’s announcement.

Jun 19

Let’s talk cervical screening: Local hairdressers and beauticians start a new topic of conversation with clients

By Awareness and Early Diagnosis, Cancer Champions, Uncategorised

If you ask someone what they talk to their hairdresser or beautician about, you might expect answers such as social events, holiday plans, and family updates. However, several salons in the Humber and North Yorkshire region will be adding cervical screening to their topics of conversation from this week.

Monday, 19th June 2023 marks the start of Cervical Screening Awareness Week and Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance is working with hairdressers and beauticians from areas with the some of the lowest rates of uptake, to help encourage more women and people with a cervix (aged from 25 to 64) to book their cervical screening appointment.

With almost one in three people not booking their cervical screening appointment, Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance has equipped local hairdressers and beauticians with the information needed to talk about the benefits of cervical screening, and breakdown any barriers that may prevent someone from booking an appointment.

Cervical screening helps to prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV which causes nearly all cervical cancers. This means any cervical cell abnormalities can be treated. If left untreated, these cells can develop into cancer.

Local mum, Meg, encouraging young people to book their first cervical screening

“I am so glad I went for my initial cervical screening.” – Meg Long, Hull

Meg Long, a mum of twins from Hull, attended her first cervical screening appointment at the age of 25 and said “Life is busy, and I could have easily let my cervical screening fall to the bottom of my to do list, especially as I was not looking forward to having it done, but I am so glad I went.

“After my appointment, I was invited back for a second screening which showed abnormal cells and HPV, so I was referred for a colposcopy and waited anxiously for the test.

“The whole thing was over much quicker than I thought it would be and all of the staff were lovely. A few weeks later, I was pleased to find out my results no longer showed HPV or abnormal cells.

“I am so glad I went for my initial cervical screening. It was not as unpleasant as I thought, and all of the NHS staff made me feel as comfortable as possible. Plus, getting the peace of mind when you get your results is worth it!”

Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance, said: “If you have been invited for a cervical screening and have not booked an appointment yet, please contact your GP practice without delay. If you have any questions or are worried that you may find the test uncomfortable, talk to the person doing the test so they give you the right support.

“We are excited to be working with local hairdressers and beauticians who can talk to lots of people about cervical screening. The more local Cancer Champions we have helping us raise awareness of NHS cancer screening programmes, the more likely we are to encourage uptake and improve outcomes for people in Humber and North Yorkshire”

The FeMale Ego Hair and Beauty team are encouraging important discussions about cervical screening

Donna Finn, owner of FeMale Ego Hair and Beauty salon in Hull, said: “My own experience of cancer meant I jumped at the chance to learn more about cervical screening. I want to support my clients to not only look good on the outside, but also be aware of how they can help look after themselves on the inside.

“I feel confident to talk about cervical screening and know I can signpost my clients to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust or the NHS website if they need more information they can trust.”

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