AQW 9610/17-22

Mrs Pam Cameron
Democratic Unionist Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 03/11/2020
Answered On Date: 01/12/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail his plans to raise awareness of blood cancer.

Answer:

Last year coproduction work began on the development of a new 10 year Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland, with policy makers, health representatives, those with lived experience and charities actively working on its development. This cancer strategy will consider ways to improve support for patients along the whole cancer pathway, including improving awareness of the signs and symptoms of various types of cancer. Work to finalise the strategy has been fully resumed following a pause in development due to the impact of COVID-19.

In the meantime, the Public Health Agency’s ‘Be Cancer Aware’ website, www.becancerawareni.info, which launched in 2015, provides information about cancer signs and symptoms, explains what to do if you are concerned, and signposts individuals to recommended sources of support or further information. This includes specific information on the signs and symptoms of some of the specific blood cancers including Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In September this year I took part in the launch of Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month campaign launch. As with all cancers, it is vitally important that anyone experiencing signs and symptoms should seek early medical advice and treatment.