Cancer
These pages are intended to help you find the correct information, or links to information about Cancer, including prevention, screening, signs & symptoms, and the support available to you from the Practice and locally.
Stop Smoking Help
Smoking causes around 7 in 10 lung cancer cases in the UK, and causes other cancers including mouth, pharynx (upper throat), nose and sinuses, larynx (voice box), oesophagus (food pipe), liver, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bowel, ovary, bladder, cervix, and some types of leukaemia.
The number of years you spend smoking affects your cancer risk most strongly, and the more cigarettes you smoke a day, the higher your risk of cancer, so reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke a day can be a good first step.
It’s never too late to stop. Getting expert support and advice from your local stop smoking service will mean you are four times more likely to succeed at quitting smoking than going at it alone.
Healthy Surrey
Links to local Stop Smoking Service and information and hints and tips to help you stop www.healthysurrey.org.uk/smoking
One You Surrey
Provide free stop smoking support throughout the county. You’ll be supported by a team of trained advisers, all of whom are experts in the field of smoking cessation oneyousurrey.org.uk.
NHS Stop Smoking
www.nhs.uk/10-self-help-tips-to-stop-smoking
Cancer Research UK
www.cancerresearchuk.org/smoking-and-cancer
Macmillan
Exercise
Keeping active can help you lose weight or keep a healthy weight, which reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer.
And if you’re exercising a lot, it can help prevent breast and bowel cancer.
For more information visit Cancer Research UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org/physical-activity-and-cancer
Healthy Surrey
Links to, and information on help and support with nutrition, physical activity and weight management available for you throughout Surrey, and hints and tips for self-help. www.healthysurrey.org.uk/weight-and-activity
NHS Live Well
Sun Exposure
Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage DNA in your skin cells and cause skin cancer. In the UK almost 9 in 10 cases of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, could be prevented through enjoying the sun safely and avoiding sunbeds.
Getting sunburnt just once every 2 years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer.
In the UK, the sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 11am and 3pm from early April and late September. During this time, the sun may be strong enough to cause damage. Take extra care to protect your skin, especially if you get sunburnt easily by:
– Spending time in the shade, especially between 11am and 3pm in the UK
– Covering up with clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and wraparound sunglasses
– And using a sunscreen with at least SPF15 and 4 or 5 stars. Use it generously, reapply regularly and use in combination with shade and clothing.
For more information visit Cancer Research UK: www.cancerresearchuk.org/sun-uv-and-cancer
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, pharyngeal (upper throat) cancer, oesophageal (food pipe) cancer, laryngeal (voice box) cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer.
Research shows drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancer whether you drink it all in one go or spread it throughout the week. Cancer risk starts to increase at small amounts, so the more you can cut down the more you can reduce your risk. Sticking within the government guidelines:
– men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
– spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
– if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
Fourteen units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.
Healthy Surrey
Links to, and information on help and support available for you throughout Surrey, and hints and tips for self-help. www.healthysurrey.org.uk/drugs-and-alcohol
NHS Alcohol Support
www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support
Cancer Research UK
Healthy Diet and Weight Management
Healthier diets could prevent around 1 in 20 cancers.
This is partly from the effect of the diet itself, but mostly by helping you keep a healthy weight or lose weight, which is important because obesity is a cause of 13 different types of cancer. Having a healthy diet, helps you keep a healthy weight or lose weight, which can reduce the risk of cancer.
Healthy Surrey
Links to, and information on help and support with nutrition, physical activity and weight management available for you throughout Surrey, and hints and tips for self-help. www.healthysurrey.org.uk/weight-and-activity
NHS Eat Well
Cancer Research UK
PSA Testing and Prostate Cancer
Leaflet: PSA Testing and Prostate Cancer (PDF)
Breast Screening
All women aged 50 up to their 71st birthday are invited for breast screening every 3 years. First invitations to screening should be received sometime between your 50th and 53rd birthdays.
The invite will ask you to call a local number to book in your breast screening appointment. Breast screening uses an X-ray test called a mammogram to check the breast for signs of cancer. It can spot cancers that are too small to see or feel.
If you are aged 71 or over, you are still at risk of breast cancer. Although you will no longer automatically get screening invitations after your 71st birthday, it is important that you remain breast aware. If you notice any changes that are unusual for you, please speak to your GP as soon as possible.
For more details of how the screening process works, and to help you decide whether to take part please visit: NHS breast screening: helping you decide – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Bowel Screening
Bowel cancer screening is completed by sending a home testing kit to everyone in England from the age of 60. Your GP practice gives Public Health England your contact details so please make sure the Practice always has your correct name, date of birth and address.
Screening is offered every 2 years between the ages of 60 and 74. The age will reduce down to 50 from April 2021 – 2025.
If you are over 74, you can ask for a kit every 2 years by calling the free helpline on 0800 707 6060. Regular bowel cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer.
For more details of how the screening works, how to use the kit, and how to reduce your risk of getting cancer please visit: NHS bowel cancer screening: helping you decide (FIT kit) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Cervical Screening
Cervical screening is for women and people with a cervix. We offer screening every 3 years from age 25 to 49 and every 5 years from age 50 to 64. This is because most cervical cancers develop between these ages.
First invitations will be sent a few months before people turn 25. You can book your appointment as soon as you get your invitation. We invite some people more often due to a previous screening result.
You should consider having screening regardless of your sexual orientation, sexual history, or whether you have had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.
If you are a transgender (trans) man registered with your GP as female, we will send you invitations for cervical screening. If you are registered as male you won’t receive invitations, but your GP or practice nurse can arrange an appointment for you if you have a cervix. If you are a trans woman you don’t need cervical screening.
For more details of how the screening test and process works, and what can increase your risk of getting cervical cancer please follow this link: Cervical screening: helping you decide – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Your practice may be able to offer you a cervical screening appointment in the evening or on a weekend if working hours are difficult for you to attend so please ask when booking your appointment.
If you are eligible, please make every effort to have your screening test. Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.
Cancer signs and symptoms
For more information including signs and symptoms of cancer please visit: NHS Cancer information
Support from the practice following a diagnosis of cancer
If you receive a diagnosis of cancer and are undergoing treatment, much of your care and support will come from your cancer team at the hospital. However, the Practice want you to know that the team is also here to support you and you family / carer both during your treatment, and after your treatment finishes.
The Practice are able to offer you and your family/carer, the opportunity to have a discussion with us, and for us to tell you about the support we are able to offer you from the Practice or available from other local services.
We should offer you an appointment to have this discussion within 3 months of your diagnosis, but if you do not hear from us, please feel free to contact the Practice to request this appointment.
Cancer care review
Later in your cancer care, the Practice will also offer you the opportunity to have a subsequent, more structured discussion called a Cancer Care Review.
This should be offered to you within 12 months of your diagnosis, usually at the end of your cancer treatment, or if there are any significant changes that happen in your treatment plan.
A Cancer Care Review (CCR) is an opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions you may have about both your physical and emotional well-being. These appointments will be offered with your GP, or a Practice Nurse, or other member of the Practice Team who has received appropriate training. They will be a slightly longer than usual appointment, and take place either by video or phone consultation, or if permitted, this may be offered as a face to face appointment.
We should contact you to offer you an appointment for a CCR, but if you do not hear from us within 12 months of your diagnosis, please feel free to contact the practice to request this appointment.
Before your appointment you will be asked to complete a Cancer Care Review form.
In Your Area - Macmillan Cancer Support
You can find your nearest Macmillan information and support centres, and other local support groups and services.
Website: www.macmillan.org.uk/in-your-area
Cancer Care Map
Cancer Care Map is a simple, online resource that aims to help you find cancer support services in your local area wherever you are in the UK. You can either search for a service or browse the types of services available.
Website: www.cancercaremap.org/find-services
Surrey Information Point
Surrey Information Point is a website for Surrey residents and their families. It provides details of care, community and health information, things to do and support services.
Website: www.surreyinformationpoint.org.uk
Healthy Surrey
Healthy Surrey can help you lead a healthier life, whether you want to be more active, drink less alcohol, stop smoking, and more. You can find out more self-care information, as well as signposting to local services available to you as a Surrey resident.
You don’t need a referral for most of these – you can book an appointment yourself.
Website: www.healthysurrey.org.uk