Not all cancers can be prevented but there are things you can do to reduce your risk

The NHS Long Term Plan aims to achieve the diagnosis of 75% of all cancers at stage 1 or 2 by 2028. This will save an estimated additional 55,000 lives per year and will increase survival rates to more than 70%.

The waterfall diagram below shows Cancer Research UK’s predictions on how the NHS can achieve this, and this is reflected in our work programme.

CRUK Early Diagnosis Waterfall Diagram

Current Priorities

Lung Cancer Screening Programme (previously Targeted Lung Health Checks) – we will continue to run the programme in the areas where it already exists, and continue to work towards total roll out of the service.

Liver surveillance – we will work with Trusts across Wessex to support with the improvement of call and recall of patients at high risk of Hepatocellular Cancer.

Primary Care – working with our primary care team we will develop and deliver a local improvement scheme focused on:

• Maintaining a clinical and non clinical cancer champion in the PCN and a named person in each practice to disseminate information through
• Bowel and Urology audits
• Spotting red flags for lung cancer in COPD check-ups
• Alcohol identification and brief advice training
• Promoting awareness campaigns to patient populations

Timely presentation – we will work with communities to increase awareness of survivability and encourage appropriate presentation in primary care and deliver two tumour-site focused and one generic campaign.

Screening

• We will expand the use of video texting to increase the uptake of cancer screening
• Bowel pilots in PCNs and practices will increase the uptake of bowel screening in their populations
• Work with prisons to encourage the uptake of bowel screening by detainees

Innovation – we will expand the use of capsule sponge in a case finding capacity.

Lynch Syndrome Patients – work with primary care to ensure patients are supported appropriately.

Bowel Cancer – develop appropriate interventions in primary care using the experience of pilots in both ICB areas.

Urology – reducing the gap in early cancer diagnosis between Dorset and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Primary Care Education

• Providing a conference for local learning
• Maximising the use of educational resources for all clinical and non clinical staff

NHS Health Checks – working with the Southampton public health team to include screening and signs and symptoms of cancer advice for up to 300 patients.