Free online sessions launched to raise cancer awareness

Residents in North Lincolnshire can register for free one-hour Cancer Champion sessions that could help them spot symptoms of the disease early.

The sessions are organised by the Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance, and the training takes place online, on 12 dates between October 27 and December 9.

They will teach people about the key facts, statistics, symptoms and screenings for a number of cancers.

Each week, 78 families within the Humber, Coast and Vale region lose a loved one to cancer. It remains vital to detect symptoms early, when treatment could be simpler and more successful.

People are urged to contact their GP if they experience signs of cancer. These include:

Unexplained blood that doesn’t come from an obvious injury
An unexplained lump
Unexplained weightloss, which feels significant to you
Any type of unexplained pain that doesn’t go away

More information about the signs and symptoms of cancer can be found on the NHS website.

Dr Dan Cottingham, Cancer Research UK GP Lead for Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Alliance, said: “We know that diagnosing cancer early can save lives, but during the Covid-19 pandemic fewer people came forward to speak to us when experiencing early symptoms of cancer.

“Cancer Champion awareness sessions support members of our communities to talk about cancer and encourage others to uptake cancer screening invitations or contact their GP if they have any concerning symptoms.”

For more information, or to register for a session, visit the Humber, Coast and Vale Cancer Champion Awareness website.

Anyone who is worried about the symptoms of cancer can also contact the Macmillan Cancer Support Centre in Scunthorpe by calling 03033 305372, or using the email address: nlg-tr.MacmillanInfoandSupport@nhs.net

The Carers’ Support Centre is still supporting carers through this challenging time and referrals can still be made. For more information call 01652 650585.

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