Cancer awareness conference draws health experts

A conference on cancer awareness and early diagnosis, led by the Public Health Agency (PHA) and working in partnership with QUB Centre of Excellence in Public Health, the NI Cancer Registry and the NI Cancer Network, took place on Monday 21 June 2010 at the Peter Froggatt Centre, QUB.

The conference featured contributions from experts in the field of cancer awareness, hospital referral and assessment from Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. The local and national experts aimed to review the evidence relating to public awareness of potential cancer symptoms, discuss actions needed to be taken in Northern Ireland to increase public awareness, and consider ways in which primary and secondary care services can contribute to earlier diagnosis.

Dr Carolyn Harper, Executive Medical Director/ Director of Public Health, PHA said,
“We know that if cancer is diagnosed early, a person is more likely to survive. Some of the differences in survival rates in Northern Ireland compared to other countries may be due to patients presenting later to their GPs. It is therefore important to increase public awareness of the important warning signs which need to be investigated to ensure speedy diagnosis. During the conference we explored what the research says about how to do this effectively.”

Professor Sir Mike Richards, CBE National Clinical Director for Cancer, Department of Health England, and keynote speaker at the conference said,
"For most cancers, survival rates have improved significantly in the past 20 years; however, survival rates in the United Kingdom continue to be lower than in our European counterparts. Evidence suggests that significant numbers of deaths could be avoided by promoting awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment."

Professor Richards, who is leading on a national initiative to spearhead improved awareness and early diagnosis, continued, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to come to Belfast to share the experience in England and be involved in making plans to promote cancer awareness among the population of Northern Ireland.”

Stage of disease at presentation is a significant factor in cancer survival. In general, survival of cancer patients decreases significantly with increasing stage. For breast cancer, five-year survival for NI patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2002 was 99.8% if their disease was stage I at diagnosis, compared to a survival of 62.1% if at stage III. For colorectal cancer, patients diagnosed between 1997 and 2000 who had stage I disease had 91.9% five-year survival rates compared to only 11.2% if at stage IV.

The PHA already commissions breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening programmes in NI, which aim to diagnose these specific cancers at an early stage. However, screening is not appropriate for all types of cancers, nor all age groups. During 2010, the Agency will be promoting public awareness of the warning symptoms of a wider range of cancers so that the public are better informed about when they need to approach their GP. We will also be encouraging hospitals to streamline their outpatient systems to assess rapidly those with ‘red flag’ symptoms.

ENDS

For media queries contact:
Clare Dolan, Public Health Agency, Ormeau Avenue Unit, Press Office on
Tel: 028 9031 1611

Notes to editors:
The Cancer Awareness and Early Diagnosis Conference will commence at 9am and finish at 4.20pm. Speakers include:

• Keynote speaker – Prof Sir Mike Richards, CBE, National Clinical Director for Cancer, Department of Health, England
• Dr Alice Simon, Research Associate, University College London
• Dr Tracy Owen, Public Health Consultant, Public Health Agency
• Ms Mary Black CBE, Assistant Director of Public Health, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement, PHA
• Dr Anna Gavin, Director, NI Cancer Registry
• Mr Jim McGuigan, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Royal Victoria Hospital
• Dr Beverly Adams, Consultant Gynecologist, Craigavon Area Hospital

There are approximately 9,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed in NI each year. 74% of people with cancer are aged 60 or over. One third of cancers are preventable.

Some steps which can reduce the risk of getting cancer are
• If you smoke try to stop
• Keep your drinking of alcohol within safe limits
• Take regular exercise and aim to keep your weight within the recommended BMI range
• Avoid getting sunburn – use sunscreen and a hat
• If your daughter or a teenager you know is offered the vaccine against cervical cancer (HPV) encourage her to take it

If cancer does develop, the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis is an important predictor of survival. You can help by
• Taking part in the cervical, breast and bowel cancer screening programmes when you receive an invitation
• Increasing your awareness of symptoms which need investigation

Over the next 18 months the PHA will be promoting public awareness campaigns on symptoms which need prompt investigation. These are different for each type of cancer. Some examples of symptoms which need a visit to your GP are:

• Coughing up blood
• Having a mole which begins to change, such as getting larger, inflamed or developing irregular edges
• Starting to bleed again after the menopause
• Mouth ulcers that have not healed after 3 weeks
• If food regularly seems to stick on the way down when you swallow

The detailed information used by GPs to decide whether to refer patients for rapid hospital assessment is available to download at the web address below.
http://www.cancerni.net/files/file/ReferralGuidanceMay2007.pdf