The Let’s Talk Cancer campaign aims to encourage people to make cancer part of their everyday conversations and to dispel the fears surrounding the word cancer.

Let’s Talk Cancer aims to:

• Improve prevention, screening, care and outcomes of cancer
• Support people to talk about their thoughts, feelings and experiences of cancer
• Encourage professionals to communicate clearly with patients about cancer

The word ‘cancer’ causes a range of negative emotions and fear in people. It can be an uncomfortable subject and one many people avoid talking about. We talk about the weather, where we are going on holiday, or what we had for our tea but we don’t talk about cancer. Instead of talking small talk why don’t you get the conversation about cancer started?

What does talking do?

• Talking helps us sort through our feelings
• It can release tension
• Helps put things into perspective
• Gives us control
• Talking creates action!

Hints and Tips

• Be open and honest about your feelings and concerns
• Talk about celebrities who have had cancer
• Soap opera storylines when characters face cancer
• Share symptoms
• Talk about the people you know that have faced cancer
• Share helpful information such as links to the Cancer Research UK website
• Stick to what you know is fact
• Don’t scaremonger

By talking about cancer today you can create a ripple effect and you may save a life. You may remind someone to go for a screening or encourage them to address any worrying symptoms.