Network summaries

Humber and Yorkshire Coast Cancer Network targets inequality in co-ordinated approach to awareness and early diagnosis

Humber and Yorkshire Coast Cancer Network has developed a co-ordinated programme of work in response to a predicted rise in cancer incidence above the national average and evidence of areas of deprivation where knowledge of cancer is low and stage of presentation is late, leading to less chance of successful treatment.

The network has made minimising the number of people developing cancer and improving survival rates one of the strategic goals in its service development strategy. This goal has in turn been embedded in the work plans of commissioner, cancer site specific (NSSG), locality and other network groups.

A Local Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (LAEDI) board is co-ordinating initiatives including a survey using the Cancer Research UK cancer awareness measure and the national audit of cancer diagnosis in primary care.

Projects undertaken include: 

• a lung social marketing project in Hull and East Riding; 
• trial of Doncaster’s ‘cough cough’ lung awareness initiative in North Lincolnshire; 
• a volunteer-led cancer collaborative in North East Lincolnshire; 
• testing in a rural area of Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network and Cancer Research UK’s campaign on skin cancer awareness in men over 50; 
• development of a network pathway for head and neck cancers.

Reports

• Download the Humber and Yorkshire Coast Cancer Network summary.

Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network was the first area of the country to prioritise awareness and early diagnosis of cancer, with a strong focus on inequalities. Early reports on reviewing key cancer and public health data; involving stakeholders; developing action plans; and a ‘how to guide’ for the launch of NAEDI in November 2008 were made widely available. 

Since then the network has developed a number of projects including the quality performance ‘dashboard’, an on-line database that allows PCTs to set themselves targets for implementing work around awareness and early detection of cancer.

Other projects include:

• conducting the Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) to provide a baseline for awareness initiatives - download the report
• carrying out the RCGP/NCAT national audit of cancer diagnosis in primary care with 33 practices across 7 PCTs
• testing an anticipatory care calendar to pick up early symptoms of cancer in people with dementia in a nursing home
  • Anticipatory Care Calendar - Early symptoms for people with dementia
  • Looking back, looking forward. Responses, reflections and impact of the ACC calendar
  • Article: Developing an anticipatory healthcare calendar, Keats,T., Mackenzie, P., Harrison, S. Learning Disability Practice, 2010, Vol 13 (8); 34-38
• production of materials targeted at the African-Caribbean community for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2010
  • Social marketing insight to increase awareness of prostate cancer in Merseyside and Cheshire
  • Prostate cancer awareness with links to patient clips
• community action in Knowsley to promote cancer screening to groups who have never attended

Reports

• Download the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network summary.

Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network has been a partner in a number of large-scale public awareness raising projects, including the Don’t Be A Cancer Chancer social marketing campaign and healthy communities collaboratives in Salford and Manchester, targeting populations at highest risk of cancer.

Work in 2009/10 focused on:

• mapping the activity of all organisations involved in cancer prevention and awareness raising in the network area, to allow all to work together more strategically
• using the RCGP/NCAT national audit of cancer diagnosis to work with general practice to raise the profile of early detection and ensure all referrals follow established guidance
• undertaking insight work and testing new resources to better understand views and opinions about cancer among South Asian communities and how best to promote cancer awareness and early diagnosis as evaluation showed that the Cancer Chancer campaign had less impact with Black and minority ethnic groups.

Reports

• Download the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network summary for more information about all of the above.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network wanted to improve population outcomes from cancer locally and to make cancer more of a priority for those working in public health so a programme manager was appointed.

The programme manager identified late presentation for head and neck cancer and an increase in sun bed use in the under-18s as priorities and worked with pharmacies, PCTs, schools and others to develop projects to address them.

Other projects undertaken by the network include:

• a community development project using volunteers to raise awareness of cancer among South Asians in two wards in Blackburn with Darwen
• a pilot Woman to Woman project to increase rates of breast and cervical screening, working with three GP practices in socially deprived wards with a high proportion of South Asian women and the target community
• development of a cancer awareness training tool for frontline health and social care staff working one-to-one with members of the public
• lung cancer campaign aimed at raising awareness in the public and improving early diagnosis of lung cancer social marketing approach and an education approach aimed at primary care

Reports

• Download the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network summary for more information about all of the above.