National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI)

The Cancer Reform Strategy establishes a new National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, led by the National Cancer Director. Cancer Research UK is co-chairing this Initiative which will co-ordinate and provide support to activities that promote the earlier diagnosis of cancer. Part of the work of the Initiative involves supporting interventions that increase cancer symptom awareness and encourage earlier presentation.

To support the work of the Initiative, our scientists are developing a symptom awareness measurement tool. The measurement tool will be used in national surveys of cancer symptom awareness and will be made available to others to facilitate the evaluation of local interventions.

We are also funding a group of experts to review current interventions to promote awareness of cancer symptoms and encourage behaviour change.

The Initiative will support the development and testing of new awareness-raising interventions and support the piloting and evaluation of validated initiatives.

Alongside this work, the Department of Health is investing in an intervention that uses social marketing to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast, lung and bowel cancers, with the aim of encouraging earlier help-seeking behaviour. This is being piloted in 20 of the most deprived areas in England and is due to report in 2009/10.