This World Cancer Day (4 February) we are shining a light on Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance’s commitment to reduce health inequalities in cancer diagnosis.
We are launching a video animation designed to start a wider conversation about health inequalities in cancer in Kent and Medway.
Alongside this, we are highlighting some of the work that has taken place with partner organisations and through the Alliance’s early diagnosis programme over the last year to reduce health inequalities in cancer.
Watch our video animation
Inequalities and early diagnosis work 2023/24
Bowel screening
The Alliance has worked with Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) on a Community Connector programme to raise awareness of bowel screening, increase knowledge of FIT testing and recognise early signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.
As well as recruiting people to be community connectors, the work by SEK included community based pop-up clinics  (in community centres, faith spaces, pubs, libraries etc to raise awareness of screening and working with community leaders to understand what would help to address some of the barriers to screening.
During the project, there was a 54 per cent increase in people referring themselves for FIT testing and a 31 per cent increase in people returning FIT tests sent directly to them.
Skin cancer
2023 saw a second year of delivering the Alliance’s Be Skin Smart campaign, first run in 2022, to raise awareness of prevention and mole changes and signs to look out for.
In July 2023, urgent skin cancer referrals in Kent and Medway were 50 per cent higher that they were in July 2021 and Kent and Medway were 17 per cent higher than England for same month.
Kent and Medway’s Programme Lead for Early Cancer Diagnosis and Cancer Health Inequalities Cathy Finnis said: “Following the campaigns, we saw a welcome increase in urgent skin cancer referrals, meaning people were more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer at an earlier point. In 2023 all of those living in the two fifths of the most deprived areas were diagnosed early.”
Read more about Be Skin Smart on our public involvement hub and find out how you can support the campaign and help reduce health inequalities in cancer.
Ovarian cancer
March 2023 also saw the launch of the Alliance’s Let’s talk about ovarian cancer campaign.
Developed through focus groups and conversations with local women, the campaign, designed to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and support women to have conversations with GPs, will run again in March (Ovarian Cancer Awareness month).
It is also being adopted by colleagues in Wessex Cancer Alliance.
Read more about Let's talk about ovarian cancer on our public involvement hub and find out how you can support the campaign and help reduce health inequalities in cancer.
Kent and Medway’s Programme Lead for Early Cancer Diagnosis and Cancer Health Inequalities Cathy Finnis said: “The Alliance is committed to the national long-term plan for all cancers to be diagnosed by stage one or two by 2028.
“Working together with partner organisations across Kent and Medway, the work of the early diagnosis programme and Core20plus5 projects is focussed on reducing the significant cancer health inequalities we know exist in Kent and Medway.
“We are lucky to have a fantastic coastline and 25 to 28 per cent of our population live here. We know there is a higher prevalence of cancer compared to non-coastal areas, so work has focussed in these areas.
“The video we are launching today was created using the Cancer Health Inequalities Needs Assessment (CHNA), which we carried out with many partners around the system.
“It’s designed to get people talking about health inequalities in cancer in Kent and Medway.”
Next steps
And the work does not stop there, with data showing that men are 13 percentage points less likely to be diagnosed with cancer at early stage, the Alliance is now developing a specific campaign aimed at men. You can read more about this on our public involvement hub.
A video is also in production for people who have been referred by their doctor for tests for possible cancer, to help people understand the process.
Read more about Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance.
If you would like to join the Alliance's Working Together Group and get in involved in shaping cancer services in Kent and Medway, you can find out more on the public involvement hub.