HMRPCT joins Manchester Versus Cancer Alliance

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT has joined an alliance of PCTs across Greater Manchester, and with Christie Hospital in their battle to beat cancer.

Manchester versus Cancer is the first partnership of its kind between the NHS, Local Authorities and supporting agencies aimed at helping to improve and promote the early detection of cancer. It will be officially launched on 21 March 2007, with linked events such as the ‘Versus Cancer’ rock concert at the MEN Arena on 30 March 2007.

The ‘Don’t be a cancer chancer’ campaign is set to encourage people to visit their GP if they suspect they have cancer as well educate people in common cancer symptoms. Men and women aged over 50 from the poorest communities are being targeted specifically by this campaign. The strong and simple message is ‘catching it early could save your life’.

Research shows that around 500 lives across Greater Manchester could be saved each year if local people went to their GP early enough.

Sheila Will, Director of Public Health said: “Rochdale borough has one of the highest mortality rates due to cancer in the region. There are many reasons for this such as people continuing to smoke, maintaining poor diets and doing little exercise combined with other environmental factors. ‘Don’t be a cancer chancer’ is being piloted initially in Oldham, Wigan and Manchester where it is hoped that such an innovative social marketing campaign as this will have a real impact on reducing the number of people dying from preventable cancers.

“Detailed analysis and evaluation will prove if it has been successful and if it is we will roll out the campaign here in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale for local people.”