Cancer Awareness Champions Promoting Cancer Awareness and Early Diagnosis

Wigan Council’s Cancer Champion programme initially started as part of The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ Campaign instigated and initially led by Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network (GMCCN), in partnership with local Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), following the network successfully securing National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI) funding to promote cancer awareness and early diagnosis.The programme ran across eleven PCTs across Greater Manchester and Cheshire commencing in May 2011. It incorporated a social marketing campaign and community engagement programme with four elements; training and brief intervention, GP engagement, campaign evaluation and cancer champion training.Outcomes were measured by effects on cancer referrals using cancer awareness measures (CAM) and feedback from cancer awareness session using evaluation forms. Cancer champions were trained locally, as part of this programme and promotional activity ran in line with the remit given.