Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance

04/02/2026

🌍💙 Today is World Cancer Day 💙🌍

A day to stand together, raise awareness and show support for everyone affected by cancer — including the thousands of people and families touched by lung cancer each year.

At Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, we’re committed to:
✔️ Raising awareness of lung cancer symptoms and early detection
✔️ Supporting people living with lung cancer and their loved ones
✔️ Funding research that saves lives
✔️ Challenging stigma and outdated perceptions

Together, we can change the story of lung cancer.
Let’s continue to learn, listen, share, and support one another — because every voice matters.

👉 Find out more about our work and support services: https://roycastle.org/

03/02/2026

Don’t ignore your Lung Cancer Screening appointment if you receive one.
Gordon didn’t and his lung cancer was detected early enough to have successful treatment.
He is now a Cancer Alliance patient rep - helping to promote the check that saved his life…

🌎 WORLD CANCER DAY 🌎

This we are highlighting some of the extraordinary stories of people in the region.

Both Gordon and his wife Muriel, who live in Croxteth, joined us today at CCC-Liverpool to speak with Naga Munchetty for BBC Radio 5 Live about having NHS lung health checks to thank for spotting their life-threatening health problems early so they could have treatment.

The couple had no health concerns and felt well when they were given appointments for their NHS targeted lung health checks, which were pioneered in Liverpool and are now part of the NHS’s national screening programme.

However, both had potentially fatal health problems spotted by these checks - with lung cancer for Gordon and an undiagnosed heart condition for Muriel. And they are now urging people to take up the offer of the checks if they are sent an appointment.

Gordon’s check in 2021 found stage 1 lung cancer, which was removed by keyhole surgery. He goes back for annual checks but has been given the all-clear. “My surgeon said that the day I saved my own life was the day I went for that check,” said Gordon. “Even when I was told it was cancer I didn’t really believe them because I had no health problems whatsoever – I felt so well. But they caught it so early through the check.”

When Muriel went for her check in October last year, she was expecting the all-clear because she also felt well but a scan found a mild heart problem which is now being treated by medication and changes to her lifestyle. “I had no indications that anything was wrong, but the doctor said that it was in its very earliest stages. He said I wouldn’t have known about it until it had got worse, and I had a heart attack or stroke – so I’m just so pleased I had the check too.

“My scan was so quick and discrete, you do not need even to take off any clothes, you just lie on the scanner, and it is done in 10 minutes. Anyone who has the chance of a lung health check should just go for it.”

People invited to have the check are sent an appointment in a text or letter for a telephone conversation with a lung health nurse, and people with a higher risk of lung cancer will be offered a low dose CT scan in a mobile unit located in their community. This scan is far more accurate at picking up cancer than a standard X-ray..

To find out more, please visit 👉https://orlo.uk/igByB

03/02/2026

🫁 Every Breath Matters!

The NHS Lung Cancer Screening Unit will soon be leaving Kirkby Town Centre. The last day for screening will be on 6 February 2026! If you have ever been a smoker, aged 55-74 and living in Knowsley then you may be eligible for FREE screening.

The service is invite-only, If you think you may be eligible but haven’t had an invite please call 0151 254 3032 today.

One Knowsley are proud to lead the Every Breath Matters campaign, working with local health and community partners to help more people feel informed, supported and confident to attend screening — because early detection can save lives.

Read the full story here🔗
https://oneknowsley.org/every-breath-matters-community-led-lung-screening-returns-to-kirkby/

Kirkby Primary Care Network, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and Charity , ReCITE Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine - LSTM

03/02/2026

03/02/2026

03/02/2026

If something in your body doesn’t feel right, and you’re worried it could be cancer, contact your GP practice.

Know what's normal for you. Get to know your body and be aware of any new or concerning changes.

Read more about cancer symptoms ➡️ nhs.uk/cancersymptoms

03/02/2026

We’re backing the new campaign aimed at tackling the high rates of head and neck cancer in men in Kirkby.

If you or a loved one are over 40 and smoke or drink, please make these three checks a monthly habit:

👉 Touch – Feel for lumps on your neck or lips.
👉 Open Wide – Look for ulcers or red/white patches.
👉 Speak – Listen for any persistent hoarseness

Early detection saves lives. Don't wait—check yourself today.

Find out more on Knowsley News. Link in comments.

03/02/2026

Great to hear our MD Jon Hayes talk about Lung Cancer Screening and early diagnosis on Naga Munchetty's Radio 5 Live show today alongside patients Gordon and Muriel Darnell.
They were diagnosed by the checks which are rolling out across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Listen again on BBC Sounds.

02/02/2026

This week is , which focuses on raising awareness of the signs and symptoms to support early detection of the UK’s sixth most common cancer, as well as highlighting the support services available for those affected.

Kidney cancer is often diagnosed by chance, but early detection saves lives. Some symptoms to look out for can include:
- blood in your p*e
- a lump or swelling in your back, under your ribs, or in your neck
- pain between your ribs and waist that does not go away
- loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to

Whether you’re worried about possible symptoms of kidney cancer, living with a diagnosis, or supporting someone who is, Cancer Care Map is here to help, with lots of listings on our site specifically for this type of cancer. Some good places to start:

✅ Kidney Cancer UK - offers information, advice and support including online support groups, events, a helpline and counselling. Its private Facebook groups offer the chance to talk to others in a similar situation.

✅ Action Kidney Cancer - provides information, advice, videos and real patient stories on their website. It also offers a patient support forum managed by patients, carers and family members who understand the emotional and physical effects of kidney cancer, along with a range of support groups (in person and online), and a helpline.

Enter your postcode on our site to discover the support services close to you, as well as further national and online support. 📍

02/02/2026

There is still time to sign up for our online radiotherapy listening event:

🗓️Wednesday 4th February 2026
⏰12pm - 2pm
🖥️ MS teams

Register here - https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=slTDN7CF9UeyIge0jXdO4wHCd0e1gPpBmwW5kGWWkxVUNkg0VDZCRzNKSE8yUzRJV1RBQkVRM0k1Si4u&route=shorturl

01/02/2026

01/02/2026

Click the link to do your check (this tool works best on mobile and in bright light): https://tinyurl.com/CMCA-Hanc

This is Hanc. He’s looking out for every man (especially those aged 40+) across Cheshire and Merseyside, to make sure you are all checking yourselves for head and neck cancer symptoms.

Hanc’s simple check can be done in 60 seconds and 3 easy steps:

1. Touch - Feel around for any lumps on your neck, lips, or in your mouth.
2. Open Wide - Look in your mouth and on your tongue for any ulcers or red / red and white patches.
3. Speak - Listen out for any hoarseness in your voice.

Head and neck cancer kills 4000 people each year in the UK. By spotting signs early and getting checked out at your GP Practice, you can boost your chances of tackling it quickly.

Checking yourself just once a month can help give you and your loved ones peace of mind.

Find out more at: https://cmcanceralliance.nhs.uk/public-information/give-a-TOS

How to check yourself for any signs of the disease