Cancer Network Fife

1000 People Project

2010-06-08T13:59:00.003+01:00

Macmillan need 1000 cancer survivors to take part in a survey into a fantastic new cancer support service currently available in the US – Livestrong Care Plan from the Oncolink website.

The plan provides personalised and tailored advice based on the treatments and side-effects you have experienced. Please complete the care plan and then fill in Macmillan’s survey. Your responses will help decide whether a UK version of the care plan should be developed and help patients to manage their condition more effectively.

Please use the link below which will take you to the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative web page.
Click on the oncolink care plan to complete your care plan
Return back to the NCSI web page and click – link to the survey to complete and submit.

http://www.ncsi.org.uk/consequences-of-treatment/oncolink-project/1000-people-project/

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

2010-04-08T11:05:00.002+01:00

According to Cancer Research UK, Bowel (Colorectal) cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the UK after breast and lung cancer. There are about 37,500 cases diagnosed in the UK each year. About 14,000 of these are in the back passage (rectum) and the rest in the large bowel (colon).
What exactly is bowel cancer?
Again, this information can be found on Cancer Research UK’s website http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk The bowel is divided into the small bowel (small intestine) and the large bowel (colon and rectum). The small bowel is actually the longest part of the bowel. It is called small because it is narrower than the large bowel - cancer of the small bowel is rare. The large bowel is made up of the colon and rectum. It has walls made of several layers and bowel cancers start in the innermost layer - the lining of the bowel. If left untreated, it can grow into the muscle layers underneath, and then through the bowel wall. Most bowel cancers take 5 to 10 years to develop and usually begin as a small growth on the bowel wall called a polyp or adenoma.
So what causes bowel cancer?
The biggest single risk factor is age. More than 8 out of 10 bowel cancers (83%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 60. So the risk of getting this disease increases as you get older. But it is thought that many bowel cancers could be prevented with changes in diet and lifestyle. Other factors, such a strong family history of bowel cancer or certain medical conditions such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, also increase the risk of bowel cancer.
More information about prevention and early diagnosis can be found at:
http://www.bowelscreening.scot.nhs.uk
http://www.bowelcancer.tv
http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

2010-03-05T13:29:00.003Z

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK affecting 35,000 men each year. It is estimated that one man dies every hour from the disease.
Despite the huge number of men affected, we just don't talk about this cancer enough. The Prostate Cancer Cancer Charity tell us that this is a ‘hidden’ disease and are campaigning for raised awareness of prostate cancer.

The campaign highlights the fact that with an early diagnosis it is in many cases possible to make a full recovery.
They also want all men to receive adequate information about their treatment options, side effects and what support is available. For further information go to: http://www.hiddencancer.org.uk/

Cervical Cancer Awareness Week - 24-30 January

2010-01-20T12:29:00.002Z

Every year in the UK, over 2,800 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 1,000 women will die from the disease. After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women aged 35 and under.

The aim of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is to increase awareness of cervical cancer and how to prevent it. The week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness at a national and local level.

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease through cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme. Despite this last year 20% of women did not take up their invitation for cervical screening. In addition, only 50% of older girls offered the HPV vaccine have elected to have this potentially life saving jab.

Raising public awareness of cervical cancer prevention is more necessary than ever. For more information go to: http://www.jotrust.co.uk/

Winter Wonderland

2009-12-24T14:58:00.004Z

Preparing to leave the office to face a dreaded last minute shopping trip, I just looked out of the window onto a real winter wonderland. It made me stop for a moment to appreciate our location here in the heart of Fife, which is arguably one of this country's most beautiful regions. Now with everywhere covered in snow, it really does look like a Christmas card.

Although I am fretting about getting everything ready in time for the big day tomorrow, there are many people for whom this festive season will be a time of REAL worry and stress. A diagnosis of cancer is difficult enough at any time of year, but it can be particularly tough when the rest of the world seems to be having fun.

If you or someone you care about is suffering from cancer, remember that we are always here to listen and help in whatever way we can. We will always respond as quickly as possible if you call and leave a message, even over the holidays.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank our volunteers for their hard work throughout 2009 and wish them a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Finally, a Christmassy quote from Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
'But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round... as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.'

Happy Christmas Everyone!
Helen x

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

2009-12-11T15:44:00.003Z

Clic Sargent, the children's cancer charity, are highlighting the needs of children and young people with cancer through this awareness month. For more information go to http://www.clicsargent.org.uk/Getinvolved/ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth

Beter Late than Never...

2009-11-30T13:43:00.000Z

November has been a busy month here at CNF. However, I do feel rather ashamed that I have not taken the time to mention Lung Cancer Awareness until the very last day of the month.
I wonder if you’ve been aware of the campaign, which is run by Macmillan Cancer Support and The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation (RCLCF) and is aimed at raising public awareness of this killer disease. Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world, with a staggering 39000 new cases reported each year in the UK. Lung cancer has one of the lowest survival outcomes of any cancer because over two-thirds of patients are diagnosed at a late stage by which time treatment is not possible. For this reason, awareness can save lives.

RCLCF list the following as being possible early symptoms:
• A cough that doesn’t go away after two to three weeks
• Worsening or change of a long-standing cough
• Repeated chest infections
• Coughing up blood
• Unexplained persistent breathlessness
• Unexplained persistent tiredness
• Unexplained persistent weight loss
• Persistent chest and /or shoulder pain

It must be pointed out that there are lots of reasons why someone may have any of the above symptoms – but if you or someone you care about is experiencing any of them, take action NOW.
For more information go to: http://www.roycastle.org

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week

2009-11-18T12:28:00.003Z

I didn’t realise, until I heard Lorraine Kelly mention it on GMTV this morning, that this is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness week. You’d think I would have known – not only because we are a cancer support organisation, but also because I’ve lost two family members to this cruellest of diseases.
Maybe my ignorance is symptomatic of the general lack of information about pancreatic cancer. Yet this is one of the UK’s most common cancers and has the worst survival rate, as only 3% of those diagnosed are alive after five years.
Ross Carter of the Pancreatic Society said: “We need to increase awareness of pancreatic cancer to raise the profile of this disease as many of the general public, patients and doctors are unaware that it is the 5th commonest cause of cancer death in the UK, killing nearly 7000 people annually”.
Part of the reason for this is there are very few, if any, symptoms in the early stages of disease. And the later symptoms of pancreatic cancer are usually vague and non-specific. Because the symptoms generally don't appear until the disease is in its advanced stages, the average survival time after diagnosis is a mere six months.
Maggie Blanks from the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund added: “Many people have never heard of pancreatic cancer. When they learn more about it, they are shocked at the 3% survival rate and lack of improvement in it.
"Increased awareness and investment in research has made significant progress possible in fighting other types of cancer – saving many lives. That’s what we want for pancreatic cancer patients. This Awareness Week provides a focus for people to help make that happen.”
For further information go to http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/

Mouth Cancer Awareness Week

2009-11-16T14:39:00.005Z

This week is mouth cancer awareness week. Most people who choose to smoke or drink too much alcohol don’t worry too much about mouth cancer as being a risk – yet there are 5000 cases diagnosed in the UK each year and nearly 2000 deaths. Scotland has by far the highest number of oral cancers with around 530 cases per year and this seems to be increasing. Between 1990 and 1999 the number of new cases in Scotland increased by a massive 43%!
Smoking, high alcohol intake and a poor diet are thought to significantly increase the risk of oral cancer with as many as 80% of cases are linked to smoking.
However, early detection could save many lives – it can improve survival rates to more than 90% - so if you notice any changes in your mouth that last longer that three weeks, speak to your doctor or dentist.
For further information on signs or symptoms, go to http://www.openuptomouthcancer.org

A Last Word on Breast Cancer

2009-10-30T16:46:00.002Z

Another successful Breast Cancer Awareness month draws to a close… 2009 saw a sea of pink ribbons practically everywhere you looked – shops, magazines, events etc etc. But the colour pink is an indication that this is female territory only. It’s not.
Male breast cancer, although much less common than female breast cancer, is poorly publicised and understood - perhaps for that reason it can go unnoticed until is has reached an advanced stage. Also, men may ignore symptoms, believing that only women can get breast cancer. Is comparatively rare, with less than 300 diagnosed cases per year in the UK. However, men should get any symptoms checked out right away.
For further information go to http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/breast-cancer/about/types/breast-cancer-in-men

Appearing at a Supermarket Near You.....

2009-10-22T12:00:00.002+01:00

Volunteer Moira and our admin assistant Pauline have been out this week letting people know about our service. Supermarket collections are a great way to raise both funds and awareness – although CNF was founded way back in 1999, there are many people in Fife living with cancer that do not know we are here.
A big thank you to Morrisons in Glenrothes and Tesco in Cupar - they allowed us to hold collections and hand out leaflets to their (very generous) customers.
There are more collection days coming up in different areas, so if you do happen to spot a CNF banner in your local supermarket, please go and have a chat with the girls… they’ll be delighted to meet you!
Helen
Co-ordinator

'Made for Life Days' at Harvey Nichols – October 2009

2009-10-13T12:10:00.002+01:00

Ladies, do you have or are you recovering from cancer?

Spiezia, the specialist organics skincare company, are hosting their ‘Made For Life’ days at Harvey Nichols stores around the country this month.

They will be at the Edinburgh store on Wednesday 21st October from 10am until 5pm – booking is essential. You can find all the details at http://spieziaorganics.com/madeforlifefoundation.php

Breast Awareness – It’s Not Just For The Over 50’s!

2009-10-08T15:34:00.002+01:00

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has gained even more attention this year, with a massive amount of media exposure highlighting the need for lifestyle changes and regular screening. However, women under 50 years old are not normally eligible for breast screening under the current NHS programme. This is not just about the cost - the problem is that mammograms are less effective in detecting breast cancer in pre-menopausal women because their breasts are made up of denser tissue, which the X-ray is less able to penetrate.
If a younger women is considered to have a higher risk of developing breast cancer because of family history, support, information and screening should be made available according to individual needs – see the Macmillan website for more info on this.
But what about everyone else? According to Cancer Research UK, in 2006 more than 45,500 women in the UK were diagnosed with breast cancer. They say that 8 in 10 breast cancers are diagnosed in women aged 50 and over – so utilising my rather dodgy maths, I work this out to be over 9000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women under 50.
I’ll be honest, even though I personally know three women under 40 that have had breast cancer, I hadn’t really given too much thought to the scale of this issue. But then last night, despite my usual aversion to award shows of any kind, I ended up watching the Pride of Britain Awards. I was blubbing my way through it along with the rest of the nation when one young woman’s story really made me sit up and pay attention.
Kristin Hallenga, aged 23, is living with advanced breast cancer. Rather than allow it to defeat her, she has used the experience as a launchpad for her own campaign – the brilliantly named Coppa Feel. The campaign is aimed at young women – not only to inform them about breast cancer but also to empower and encourage them to seek the correct professional advice. Check out Kris’ website and her blog. And please tell all the young ladies in your life to do the same.
Helen
Co-ordinator

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-01T10:06:00.003+01:00

Can’t believe that October has rolled around again… where did the summer go? October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so we’ve been trying to dash around all our information stands topping up with all the latest breast cancer information leaflets. We have 14 stands located throughout Fife, so keep an eye out for them.
Cancer Research UK state that one in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives and the World Health Organisation say it is now the most common cancer among women worldwide.
Frightening statistics – but can we do anything about it? There is increasing evidence to suggest that we can.
It was recently reported in the Times that a new study by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF ) has found the strongest evidence yet that lifestyle is linked to the risk of developing breast cancer. The research came to the conclusion after showing that more than four out of ten cases could be prevented if women exercised, limited their alcohol intake and maintained a healthy weight.
Arlene Wilkie, director of research and policy at Breast Cancer Campaign, said: “This review provides further evidence that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life along with regular exercise will reduce the risk of health problems such as breast cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis.”
Easier said than done after a hard days work when the notion of collapsing in front of the telly with a glass of wine and packet of crisps is a bit more appealing than a green salad and a jog round the park, I know, but at least it gives some hope that we have some influence over this awful disease.
When breast cancer does strike however, early detection can save lives. The breast screening programme in the UK has screened more than 19 million women and has detected around 117,000 cancers and a report by the Department of Health Advisory Committee published in 1991 suggested that the programme would save 1,250 lives each year by 2010.
I recently had my first mammogram (giving my age away here!) and it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected – it is rather weird, but only uncomfortable for a few seconds. Not much inconvenience when it could save my life…

http://breastcancercare.org.uk

http://breastcanceruk.org.uk

http://breakthrough.org.uk

New Website

2009-09-29T12:14:00.000+01:00

Hooray! At long last, our new website is finally live, thanks to our IT Volunteer James. We’ve aimed to make it as simple and straightforward as possible – much easier to navigate than the old version but with all the necessary information.
There is always room for improvement however, so any comments/ feedback will be welcomed.
www.cancernetworkfife.org.uk