World Cancer Day - 4 February
Sunday 4 February is World Cancer Day, a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Their theme this year is “Close the Care Gap”.
While we live in a time of awe-inspiring advancements in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, health inequities still exist and many people who require treatment for cancer face barriers whether connected to income, education, geographical location, or other factors that negatively affect access and care.
Partners within the Frimley Health and Care Integrated Care System are committed to reducing health inequalities and creating healthier communities. Just one way our partnership approach is supporting those at risk of cancer, is through the Targeted Lung Health Check Programme which can identify lung cancer at an earlier stage and often before symptoms become apparent.
During 2023 the programme was located in Slough, an area selected on the basis of population size, smoking prevalence and late-stage lung cancers and from 26 January 2024 the programme went live in Aldershot where it hopes to see 6500 eligible patients.
GP practices work with specialist healthcare teams to invite eligible patients – those aged between 55-74 years, who are smokers or former smokers, to take up the offer of this potentially live saving preventative screening.
The partnership team, which includes clinicians and healthcare specialists from general practice, hospital settings, healthcare providers and the Surrey and Sussex Cancer Alliance (an organisation that brings together health, social care and third sector organisations to work together to transform cancer care and improve cancer survival) are committed to ensuring that eligible patients are able to understand the process fully, get access to the scanner easily and receive follow up support and ongoing health advice such as smoking cessation advice if required.
Slough resident, Mr C Walters, told us about his experience.
“As a wheelchair user I always worry when being asked to go somewhere that isn’t a hospital as access can be an issue but when I arrived at the lung health check scanner, the staff were very helpful and there was a lift to get me into the machine. I would absolutely recommend going to get yourself checked.”
In addition Frimley Health and Care was praised last year for leading the country in improving GP led bowel cancer screening referrals with a higher proportion of people being asked by GPs to use preliminary home testing kits doing so locally than anywhere else in the country.
These tests - Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) mean cancers, such as colorectal (bowel) cancer, can be detected sooner, treatment can begin earlier, and the chances of successful recovery are much better. It also means fewer patients will need to undergo invasive tests.
Ian Laidlaw, Clinical Lead at NHS Frimley and the former Chief of Service for Surgery, Urology and Cancer at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, represents the ICS Cancer Clinical Oversight Group. He said: “The introduction of the FIT test for our patients has been a great success in Frimley ICS and has improved the quality of care we deliver through system-wide working.
“A GP can order this reliable, readily available and relatively cheap test for their patient and have the result available in a few days, avoiding time consuming, unpleasant and expensive tests for the patient.
“The clinical teams can then concentrate resources and plan investigation and treatment in a timelier way for those who have a higher chance of a colorectal cancer diagnosis, whilst providing reassurance to a great many people who’ll no longer have to worry.
“The development and launch of the pathway involved teams in primary and secondary care working together and was coupled with regular education, monitoring and feedback on its use. The high level of implementation achieved in approximately six months shows the value of system-wide work in Frimley ICS to make best use of our resources to deliver best practice and benefit our patients.”
This world cancer day make a pledge to never ignore symptoms or concerns. If you have been experiencing any symptoms for three weeks or more, contact your GP practice to make an appointment and if you are invited for screening or know someone else who has been, take up the offer and support others to do the same.
Find out more about the Targeted Lung Health Check programme, visit our dedicated information site
Or view our short explainer videos.