This Van Can with Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance
Public health education campaign
This Van Can: Bringing ovarian cancer education to communities
Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance's latest #ThisVanCan roadshow is bringing ovarian cancer awareness to communities at higher risk of late-stage diagnosis.
In collaboration with the Dianne Oxberry Trust and Target Ovarian Cancer, the mobile unit is delivering accessible health education directly to the public, offering:
- Expert-led ovarian cancer symptom awareness from trained study ambassadors
- Encouragement for early diagnosis and GP engagement to improve patient outcomes
- Accessible healthcare information in community settings, reducing barriers to cancer education
This van will be going to busy precincts and shopping centres, to bring symptoms awareness of ovarian cancer to the general public. We're hoping that we can improve earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer, we know that if we do that, we will save lives, and more people will have successful treatment for ovarian cancer.
Dr Charlotte Badescu
GP, ovarian cancer survivor and GP fellow in Early Diagnosis with Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance
Raising awareness of bowel cancer
Supporting early cancer detection through community engagement
Building on the success of the This Van Can prostate cancer awareness project, Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance are raising awareness on the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, while encouraging participation in the faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) programme, by:
- Visiting all ten boroughs across Greater Manchester over six months, within areas with higher rates of late-stage diagnoses
- Delivering three community events per week in high-traffic locations, offering expert-led information to the public
- Empowering at-risk communities with educational resources and literature
Client Testimonial
We could put adverts in newspapers, or we could put things online, or we could put things on the TV, but we're not sure that reaches everybody. We thought it'd be better if we reach out to people and kind of get in the way with our van and get that conversation going, rather than wait for people to come to us.
Dr Roger Prudham
Lead Cancer Clinician, Northern Cancer Alliance NHS Group
Raising awareness of bowel cancer in community settings
Mobile clinic in the community
This Van Can make a difference
Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership worked together to talk to men over the age of 45 about their risk of prostate cancer and offer PSA blood tests on board a mobile health clinic, #ThisVanCan.
With the risk of prostate cancer increasing to 1 in 4 for black men, This Van Can was particularly aimed at engaging with black communities. EMS Healthcare supported the project by:
- Providing the van
- Supplying the phlebotomist
- Identifying locations to engage with the project's core demographic
Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance's 'This Van Can' prostate cancer awareness
Client testimonial
We know from speaking to men that some may have reservations about going to see their doctor and they’re a bit anxious about going to the hospital. In this situation, we’ve taken the message out into the community, so a mobile unit is invaluable.
Sotonye Tolofari
Consultant Surgeon and Clinical Director for Urological Cancer at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance