Several cancers are quite prevalent across Manchester, and the Manchester Public Health Development Service is working to reduce the risk of this disease. The enormity of the task means that multi-agency networking is a must, and thus the cancer team work alongside, and with, partners across the city.

The service aims to support action to reduce the risk of cancer in Manchester and raise awareness of the signs and symptoms. MPHDS is able to offer training and support of agencies that have cancer ‘prevention’ as part of their role.

So what is cancer?  Cancers are made up of cells.  Normal cells grow in a controlled way.  But cancer cells are different to normal cells.  They go on and on growing.  One cell becomes cancerous.  This grows into two, then four, then eight and so on.  By the time a cancer is big enough to see on a scan, or to feel as a lump, there are billions of cells in the tumour.  As well as growing and growing, cancer cells may not stick together well, and are able to spread around the body.

The Manchester Public Health Development Service aims to prevent cancer through promotion of healthier lifestyles and promotes the earlier detection of cancer by raising awareness of symptoms and the importance of presenting at the GPs with them.

The NHS Cancer Plan has achieved impressive results since its implementation, in improved co-ordination, streamlined pathways and faster access to specialist services.  Much of this has followed the formation of Cancer Networks and led to improved diagnosis and treatment.

The Department of Health has set targets to reduce death rates from cancer by at least 20% in people under 75, by 2010. Compared to other European countries, people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer at a later stage these figures are higher in those living in disadvantaged areas of England (i). This has been attributed to a number of factors, including patient delay in recognising signs and symptoms of cancer, poor levels of knowledge about the disease, but also evidence of people in the areas of highest deprivation having low expectations of their health in older age, and of their longevity.

To address this problem, a Healthy Communities Collaborative project tackling cancer- promoting early presentation of cancer symptoms has been launched.  The project aims to assist early diagnosis for breast, bowel and lung cancer, the three most commonly diagnosed cancers in the UK.  See the link to the Healthy Communities Collaborative for further details.

Don’t Be A Cancer Chancer is a linked campaign involving the service working in partnership with Christie Hospital and North Manchester Community Members to spread the early detection message.  See the link for further details.

(i) House of Commons Public Accounts Committee. The National Cancer Plan: a progress report. December 2005.