Cancer signs and symptoms are clear for Liverpool
8th February 2012
As the Department of Health rolls out its first ever national bowel cancer campaign, the results of a Liverpool-based pilot last year are already showing encouraging results.
In spring 2011 Liverpool Primary Care Trust (PCT) launched ‘Be Clear on Cancer’, which aimed to raise awareness about the signs of bowel, breast and lung cancer. Now, initial findings indicate that over the life of the campaign there was a 19% increase in people presenting to Liverpool GPs with bowel cancer symptoms compared with the same period the previous year.
Cancer is the city’s biggest killer and claims the lives of around 1,300 Liverpool residents each year. Together, bowel, breast and lung cancer account for nearly half of Liverpool cancer deaths.
The findings come as plans continue for ‘2012 Year of Action on Cancer’ – a broad-ranging cancer-awareness campaign across Cheshire and Merseyside which will focus on prevention, early detection, research and innovation and treatment.
Dr Paula Grey, Director of Public Health said: “In the development of the campaign we combined information to show us where in the city people were more likely to get the three cancers, and where they were more likely to present their symptoms at a late stage. This gave us the knowledge of where to find these people down to the streets in which they live.
“Before starting any work on the campaign itself, we spoke to hundreds of these people to find out their attitudes to health and specifically cancer. This allowed us to create a very targeted campaign which really spoke directly to the people we were trying to reach – and our evaluation tells us we were really successful in doing this.
“We are delighted with the initial results. Not only have we seen an increase in awareness amongst residents of the signs and symptoms of cancer, but there has also been a significant increase in the number of people presenting to their GP.”
In addition to the 19% increase in Liverpool residents visiting their doctor withbowel cancer symptoms, between April and September 2011 there was also a 9% increase in people presenting with lung cancer symptoms.
The campaign used a combination of high-profile advertising and grassroots community activity to get the message across. It included the ‘On the Couch’ roadshow, which involved a specially-branded sofa touring busy locations and events across the city, such as shopping centres and supermarkets.
The sofa was accompanied by a healthcare professional who people were invited to join ‘on the couch’ for a chat about any cancer concerns they might have – feedback suggests that people found this opportunity to have an informal conversation about their health really useful, and for some it gave them the reassurance they needed to book an appointment with their doctor.
This is something which is echoed by Liverpool resident Henry Mooney, who had been experiencing the signs of bowel cancer for about three months before he went to his GP (see full case study below). It was only when he became aware it could be cancer that he felt it was serious enough to talk to his GP about his symptoms.
The Government’s national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’
bowel cancer campaign launched on January 30. Featuring real GPs, the ‘campaign encourages people who have had blood in their poo or loose poo for more than 3 weeks to see their doctor.
Other symptoms include:
- a pain or lump in your stomach
- feeling more tired than usual for some time
- unexplained weight loss
The new adverts aim to make people aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and make it easier for them to discuss this with their GP.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: “No one likes talking about their poo – it’s embarrassing. But bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer so we need to get over the embarrassment and talk to someone about it.
“The “Be Clear on Cancer” campaign uses simple messages to make people aware of the key symptoms of bowel cancer and to give them the confidence to talk to their GP if they notice the symptoms.
“No matter how embarrassing it is, talking to your GP can help save your life.”
Case study
Henry Mooney, 58 of Sefton Park started to experience some of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer last year.
The married father of two, who works as a Community Engagement Officer for Everton in the Community explains: “I started experiencing symptoms of bowel cancer last year and was experiencing them for about three months before I decided to present to my GP.
“The symptoms I was experiencing included bleeding from the bowel and pain in the bowel but it was not until I was working on a health project at work, which aimed to engage with men across the city about the signs and symptoms of cancer that I realised it could be bowel cancer. It was then that I knew I needed to see my GP.
“Men, especially men of my age, never go to the doctor unless they’re on death’s door because they feel it’s not serious enough. We don’t bother too much about our health. Had I not realised it could be cancer, I’m not sure I would have gone to the doctor.
“My GP referred me to the Royal Hospital for tests. At that stage I wasn’t sure if it was cancer, although I did have a lot of the symptoms. The results showed I had polyps (a fleshy growth) in my bowel. These polyps grow up from the lining of the bowel and are benign but if they are not removed, eventually they can become malignant.
“I had surgery to remove the polyps and now take tablets. Overall I’m in great health and luckily they caught it in time before it had the chance to develop into something more serious. I now talk to men about a range of health issues, including cancer and share my own experiences.
“I would encourage anyone who has signs or symptoms of cancer to go and see their doctor. Life is too precious not to and just because you have some symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be cancer. I had a friend who thought he had a hernia but it turned out it was bowel cancer and by the time he realised, it was sadly too late. Never feel like you’re wasting the doctor’s time – go and get it checked out.”
Key facts about bowel cancer
• Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer.
• It affects 33,000 people every year in England with the majority of cases occurring in people over the age of 55.
• There are 13,000 deaths a year but it can be less deadly if spotted and diagnosed early.
• More than 90% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer at an early stage survive for at least 5 years compared with only 6% of those diagnosed at a late stage.
• If England’s bowel cancer survival rates matched the best in Europe an additional 1,700 lives would be saved every year.
• Around 14,600 cases were diagnosed in women and 18,000 in men in England in 2008.
• Two thirds of bowel cancer develop in the colon, while the remaining third developing in the rectum
• Bowel cancer is also referred to as colorectal cancer. It includes both cancer of the colon and cancer of the rectum.
