Several types of cancers are prevalent across Manchester, and 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.

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

The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007, builds on the progress made since the publication of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000.  It sets out a clear direction for cancer services until 2012 and shows how the strategy will deliver cancer outcomes that are amongst the best in the world.

The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley MP, and Minister of State for Care Services, Paul Burstow MP, have recently asked Professor Sir Mike Richards to review the Cancer Reform Strategy (CRS) to ensure the right strategy, subject to the Spending Review, is in place to deliver improved survival rates. In addition to focusing on outcomes, the review will set the future direction for cancer services.

As mentioned above, evidence indicates that cancer patients in England tend to have more advanced disease at diagnosis, and that this is a factor in England’s poorer survival rates compared to other comparable healthcare systems.

In general, the earlier a cancer is diagnosed the better the prospect that it can be treated successfully. Therefore, diagnosing cancer earlier could potentially make a significant difference to cancer survival rates in England

The National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI), a partnership between the Department of Health, the NHS and Cancer Research UK, was formally launched in November 2008.
The overall goal of the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) is to promote earlier diagnosis of cancer, and through that to improve cancer survival rates and reduce cancer mortality.
To help achieve this goal there are a number of supporting objectives including:

• raising public awareness of the symptoms of cancer and the benefits of early diagnosis
• encouraging people with symptoms that could be due to cancer to present earlier to healthcare services
• targeting those at higher risk of delaying seeking medical advice
• supporting primary care in referring patients who present with symptoms for investigation

Manchester Public Health Development Service fully supports the overall goals of NAEDI and works closely with partners to ensure that information, training and advice is provided to encourage health professionals and their patients to address any concerns or worries over cancer as quickly as possible.

Please read more information about the following Cancer areas:

Bowel	Updated: 16/05/11	40KB
Breast Screening	Updated: 16/05/11	36KB
Cervical	Updated: 16/05/11	36KB
Prostrate	Updated: 16/05/11	44KB
Testicular	Updated: 16/05/11	64KB

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