People in Wokingham concerned that they have cancer symptoms are being urged to seek information and support while they shop.
This comes as Tesco and Cancer Research UK are working together to raise awareness in Wokingham of possible symptoms of cancer, break down barriers people may face to speaking to healthcare professionals, and help customers feel more confident when communicating with their doctor.
A new survey by the charity and YouGov shows that there are a number of barriers that make people in the region delay or put off having potential cancer symptoms checked.
The top four are – thinking it will be difficult to get an appointment (53%); finding it difficult to get an appointment (47%); thinking symptom was unlikely to be anything serious (43%); and deciding that symptoms could be managed by themselves (41%).
To break down these barriers, Cancer Research UK has created a health campaign with Tesco, running until November 30, to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of cancer, and support customers to seek help if they’ve noticed something unusual for them.
If someone notices something that is unusual for them, they can have an initial conversation with a pharmacist at the Wokingham superstore in a convenient, private setting, and receiveguidance on taking the next steps and booking a GP appointment if needed.
The store’s pharmacists have received specialist training from Cancer Research UK to provide support on possible signs and symptoms of cancer.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “Nearly one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetime. Spotting cancer early can make all the difference, so it’s incredibly important that people get the support they need when they notice something that’s not right for them.
“That’s why we’ve joined forces with Tesco, to make it easier for people to talk to a
professional about any concerns, and ultimately, to help diagnose cancers earlier and save lives.”
Tom Lye, Tesco health and wellness category director, said: “We know how many barriers there can be in day-to-day life around getting health concerns checked out. Customers can quickly and easily see a pharmacist at one of our Tesco Pharmacies.
“Informed by their specialist Cancer Research UK training, pharmacists can have a confidential conversation about any worrying symptoms which could support customers in getting an earlier cancer diagnosis.”
Data from Cancer Research UK highlights why spotting cancer early is so important. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK** – but about 9 in 10 people in England will survive the disease for five years or more if they are diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to around 1 in 10 at the latest stage.
Across England, just over half of cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage (55.3%), but this varies by region due to a number of factors such as some areas having higher numbers of cases of cancer types that can be harder to spot early, like lung cancer.
Tesco pharmacists are available all year round, supporting anyone experiencing symptoms so that they can discuss what steps to take next.
