Brewing awareness: how a Macmillan coffee morning led to early detection.

The Cancer Awareness team regularly visit the Passport Office in Durham, as they have a large workforce from across the county.

We were invited to a Macmillan Coffee Morning held by the organisation which provided us with a perfect opportunity to get our message out, so we set up a screening information stand in the foyer. The relaxed setting of a coffee morning helped us to have numerous open conversations with the staff. People came forward, we handed out information leaflets on cervical, bowel, and breast screenings. We also provided demonstrations of the simple steps it takes do your own bowel cancer screening at home using a FIT kit.

Following the success of the Macmillan Coffee Morning, we returned for Movember. Here, we were approached by a man who we had previously spoken to, and he said: “I had blood in my poo and had been ignoring it but, after speaking with you, I made an appointment with my GP and completed the bowel screening kit.“

He told us that it had been a very stressful few weeks, naturally, but after some basic treatment, he is now fine. He’s even booked a holiday as he is feeling so much better and more confident.

The man told us: “If you hadn't visited, I would have never got it checked out.”

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Cancer Awareness is part of Adult Wellbeing Services and is delivered in partnership by County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) and the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP).