The CAC acronym was a buzz word in the office from the day I started my job, just over a month ago. The team talked about it enthusiastically and with great in-depth knowledge. But to the new starter it was yet another VCSE acronym to get my head around…
What on earth was CAC?
I knew it was something cancer related and focused on educating people about the disease but that was about the extent of my knowledge. When an invite to attend a CAC Workshop popped into my inbox, I was intrigued to learn more.
Raising awareness across the community
It turns out that CAC stands for Communities Against Cancer. A project with the mission of raising cancer awareness within marginalised communities. Action Hampshire creates content and delivers workshops to charities which connect with under-represented groups.
Early diagnosis is key to the treatment of cancer, and it is therefore vital everybody is informed about the disease so that they can act if they are worried about a symptom. Through a network of organisations, Communities Against Cancer inform communities about the importance of screening as well as signs and symptoms to look out for.
Dealing with resistance…
Although I was keen to understand more about this project from a professional perspective, I was also quite anxious about attending a workshop which would make me more informed about cancer. I’ve had irrational health anxiety most of my adult life and learning too much about a disease can heighten it. I don’t watch hospitals dramas or medical documentaries and if I Google the symptoms, I believe I have the disease. Reluctantly, I was already putting up my own barriers…
Should I click and ‘join now’?
However, I took a deep breath and connected to the online workshop presented by my two work colleagues Claire Vincent and Kishor Patel. Immediately, I was welcomed into the group and invited to participate in a quiz, followed by a series of punchy, informative videos and well-presented information sheets. The workshop was informal in style, as light-hearted as could be given the subject matter, and interactive, keeping the audience engaged.
Working in communications, I understand that clarity is a necessity when raising awareness. The content and delivery of the workshops was presented clearly. This meant that the dissemination of information could be easily spread across communities.
Listening to communities…
I learnt that educating people about cancer is a two-way process. Claire and Kishor encouraged the participants to share their experiences and concerns, on behalf of their communities.
They talked about barriers in relation to screening which I had not appreciated up until now. The only obstacles I could think of were the customary anxieties of whether the process would hurt or how I would feel if something was spotted.
However, there are other barriers to health screening which aren’t quite as evident and need tackling and discussion. For example, what if you don’t have transport to get to your screening appointment? Perhaps you live in a remote, rural area with no transport links or nobody to drive you.
How does cervical screening affect the trans community? It can be especially complex and distressing for the trans community and there can be confusion as to whether someone is eligible for screening. Sometimes, people may not be invited when they are eligible or instead may be invited when it is not appropriate. All of this can add to people’s reluctance, fear and lack of trust in health services.
One participant representing individuals with autism raised a concern that receiving an invitation to attend a screening might make some people feel excessively anxious. A person with autism (or other neuro-divergencies) could take the situation literally and believe they were at greater risk resulting in an unnecessary fear, questioning why they have been ‘targeted’.
Keen to learn more?
Attending this workshop has opened my eyes to some of the issues around cancer awareness and screening. I don’t have the knowledge and experience of Claire and Kishor but at least I have a grounding in this invaluable project which empowers organisations to make a difference.
If you would like to learn more about Communities Against Cancer or attend a CAC Workshop, please visit our webpage.
Follow this link to find out more about Communities Against Cancer
