Raising awareness: Learn how to talk to about cancer with training and support from Cancer Research UK

How much do you know about preventing cancer? Find out more with awareness training and get people talking

In fact, Talk Cancer positively encourages conversations about cancer and health ranging from common myths and fears to risk factors, healthy habits, screening and more - all with the aim of promoting positive changes that can save lives.

The cancer awareness training programme is run by Cancer Research UK to give people knowledge and confidence to share straightforward messages about prevention and early diagnosis. Essentially it encourages people to bring conversations out into the open where they can genuinely make a difference.

Reliable information

Get important conversations going in your community with Talk Cancer training

Talk Cancer has trained thousands of people UK-wide via workshops for groups able to pass on reliable, up-to-date information to those who need it most. Participants might be community volunteers or faith leaders, work in social, occupational or mental health care or as pharmacists, dentists or in GP surgeries.

Whatever your role, if you’re in regular contact with local people and keen to tackle barriers that stop someone accessing expert advice and support, then Talk Cancer’s training can make the task much less daunting.

Nurse Lead Gill Kilgour explained: “Barriers can be anything from not recognising possible symptoms to worries about wasting a doctor’s time or practical problems like not being able to attend appointments in working hours.

“Chatting things through, raising awareness and signposting to suitable services can help to address a lot of these issues.”

Talk Cancer: Gain the skills to make every conversation count

Interactive sessions

Delivered by highly experienced nurses, the engaging sessions debunk myths and provide facts using an easy-to-follow interactive approach. They take place face-to-face or online and include polls, quizzes and videos to share evidence-based and sometimes surprising information.

“You don’t need to have all the answers, just the confidence to start conversations,” said Gill. “Simply asking someone what their doctor thinks about a change they’ve noticed can empower people to take the next steps and book an appointment.”

What’s normal for you?

Making cancer a talking point isn’t easy but the team will quite casually chat about issues from bowel habits to breast changes with one very simple message: “If it’s not normal for you, speak to your doctor.”

For more information about Talk Cancer’s awareness training or to book a workshop, visit http://www.cruk.org/talkcancer

Some groups are eligible to receive the training free of charge and can use the online eligibility checker to find out. Free scheduled sessions online are also available for individuals.

Ring 020 3469 8111 or email [email protected] for further details.