Cancer awareness, prevention and earlier diagnosis

Aldershot Primary Care Network is working with our GP practices, local partners and Wessex Cancer Alliance to support cancer awareness, prevention and earlier diagnosis across our community.

This page brings together our local cancer awareness campaigns, patient information, screening reminders and useful resources. We will update this page with current campaign materials, posters and key messages throughout the year.

This project supports GP practices to improve cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis and patient support. The aim is to help more people recognise possible signs and symptoms of cancer, come forward sooner, and access the right tests, referrals and advice as early as possible.

Through this work, we are focusing on:

Raising awareness of cancer signs and symptoms
Encouraging people to attend cancer screening when invited
Supporting patients to seek help early if they notice a change in their health
Improving how we identify and support people who may be at higher risk
Helping our teams use best practice guidance and local cancer resources

Early diagnosis can make a significant difference to treatment options, outcomes and quality of life. Many symptoms are not caused by cancer, but it is always better to get checked.

Please contact your GP practice if you notice a new, unexplained or persistent change in your health, such as a lump, unexplained weight loss, ongoing tiredness, changes in bowel habits, blood in your poo or urine, a persistent cough, unusual bleeding, or a symptom that does not feel normal for you.

Cancer screening can also help find cancer early, sometimes before symptoms appear. Please take up screening invitations when you receive them.

Bowel Screening Campaign

We are kicking off our new local cancer awareness campaign with a focus on bowel cancer screening. "Are you match fit"

Bowel cancer screening is a simple test that you do at home. It checks for tiny amounts of blood in your poo, which can sometimes be an early sign of bowel cancer or changes that may need further checks.

The NHS offers bowel cancer screening to people aged 50 to 74 every two years. If you are eligible, you will be sent a home testing kit in the post. The test is quick, private and simple to complete.

Bowel screening can help find cancer early, before you have symptoms. Finding cancer early can make treatment more effective and improve outcomes.

If you receive a bowel screening kit, please complete it and return it as soon as you can. If you have received a kit before and did not use it, please do not ignore your next one.

If you are aged 75 or over, you can still ask for a bowel screening kit every two years by calling the free NHS bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

Please remember: screening is for people without symptoms. If you notice blood in your poo, a persistent change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, ongoing tummy pain, bloating, tiredness, or anything that is unusual for you, please contact your GP practice.

A number of former Saints players are backing the local campaign.

James Beattie, Mark Dennis, Jason Dodd, Pele, Glenn Cockerill, Jo Tessem, Mark Barrett and Ken Monkou gathered at a recent Saints Legends football match against Winchester City FC, where they discussed the importance of early detection.

If you are registered with a GP and you are aged between 50 and 74 you will automatically be sent a home bowel screening kit every two years.

If you are 75 or over you can ask for a kit every two years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.