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3 is the magic number PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 18 March 2011 13:27
Timing is everything when talking about cancer, as early detection of the disease saves lives. If you’ve had a key cancer symptom for more than three weeks your local NHS Health Improvement Team urges you to visit your GP and get checked out.

Breast, bowel and lung cancer remains a leading cause of premature death. Around 10,000 people die in England each year because their cancer is diagnosed too late. The NHS advises you to see your doctor if you’ve had one of the tell tale warning signs of cancer for more than three weeks.

Dr Mel Forrest runs a local practice. She says:
“It’s vital that you get any suspicious symptoms checked out if you’ve had them for more than three weeks.
“Your GP will hopefully be able to put your mind at rest, but if they do turn out to be something more serious you’ll have given yourself the best chance of simple and effective treatment.
“Getting your symptoms checked early might be the most important thing you ever do as all too often cancer is found at a late stage when it's harder to treat.”

Three reasons to follow the three week ‘Get checked’ rule and help detect cancer in its early stages:
  1. Cancer treatment will be simpler.
  2. Cancer treatment will be more effective.
  3. Survival rates are much higher
In many cases your key symptom will prove to be something else, but at least you will be able to put your mind at rest as well as the minds of your loved ones.

The Health Improvement Team continues to run its award winning ‘Get checked’ – early detection of cancer programme throughout Halton and St Helens and relies heavily on the local media, our very own ‘Get checked’ volunteers as well as the public to help spread the life saving message that early detection saves lives.
Since the ‘Get checked’ campaign began, there has been:
  • A 35% increase in GP ‘fast track’ referrals for suspected bowel cancer.
  • A 21% increase in GP ‘fast track’ referrals for suspected breast cancer.
  • An 11% increase in GP ‘fast track’ referrals for suspected lung cancer.
We know the ‘Get checked’ message is working as more and more local people are visiting their GP with early tell tale signs of cancer. However the ’Get checked’ challenge remains huge until every household and workplace throughout Halton and St Helens fully recognises the key signs and symptoms of breast, bowel and lung cancer.

Do you have any of these key bowel cancer symptoms?
  • Bleeding from your bottom – either in the toilet, in your poo, or when wiping.
  • Going for a poo more often or your poo being more watery than usual for over three weeks.
  • Pain in your stomach that happens most days, lasts for more than a few minutes and isn’t helped by having a poo.
Do you have any of these key breast cancer symptoms?
  • A lump in either your breast or armpit.
  • Change in appearance of your breast or nipple – such as skin dimpling or denting.
  • Discharge from one of your nipples – possibly blood-stained.
Do you have any of these key lung cancer symptoms?
  • A persistent cough that you’ve had for more than three weeks.
  • Coughing up blood – any amount of blood in your spit or phlegm should be checked out straight away.
  • Shortness of breath – feeling very out of breath, or more out of breath than is normal for you.
Get checked volunteers photographed at a recent workplace eventThe ‘Get checked’ volunteers will continue to be seen at key local and community events throughout the year. The Health Improvement  team is also available to visit local workplaces free of charge by giving a quick 30 minute presentation to staff and colleagues about breast, bowel and lung cancer. If you would like to arrange a potentially life saving visit from our ‘Get checked’ team, please contact Kerry Grimes on 0151 495 5450 or send her an enquiry at kerry.grimes@hsthpct.nhs.uk.
www.healthimprovementteam.co.uk

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