Spot the Signs — Cancer Awareness

Cancer awareness is about more than recognising symptoms. Through our Spot the Signs campaign, we’re helping local people understand cancer risks, access screening, make healthier choices and overcome barriers to getting the healthcare they need. Working alongside NHS and community health partners, we’re bringing trusted information and practical support closer to home.

Two men sitting at a table inside the BLOT Mobile Hub, one wearing a red BLOT polo shirt

KEY MESSAGES

Key messages

Know the signs

Persistent or unusual changes deserve medical attention.

Understand screening

Screening can help detect certain cancers early, but it doesn’t replace seeking advice about symptoms.

Take steps to reduce your risk

Small lifestyle changes and appropriate preventative healthcare can make a difference.

Don’t let barriers stop you

Help is available with healthcare information, digital services and accessing appointments.

You don’t have to navigate it alone

BLOT can help connect you with trusted NHS information and appropriate support.

BLOT doesn’t give medical advice. For health concerns, contact your GP or NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN

Knowing the signs. Taking the next step. Getting the right support.

Finding cancer early can make a life-changing difference. Yet for many people, accessing healthcare isn’t always straightforward. Whether it’s uncertainty about symptoms, difficulties booking appointments, language barriers, digital exclusion or simply not knowing where to turn, small obstacles can sometimes prevent people from getting the support they need.

At BLOT, we believe nobody should face unnecessary barriers to looking after their health.

Our Spot the Signs campaign is part of a £20,000, year-long Community Cancer Awareness, Digital Inclusion and Early Diagnosis Programme, funded by NHS Peninsula Cancer Alliance. Building on our previous cancer-awareness work, we’re taking information, encouragement and practical support directly into the communities we serve.

Through our Community Hub, Mobile Hub and relationships with NHS and community health services, we’re focusing on four key areas.

Recognising the signs and acting early

We encourage people to recognise persistent or unusual changes in their bodies and feel confident speaking to a healthcare professional. Most symptoms won’t be cancer, but getting them checked can make an important difference.

Making cancer screening more accessible

NHS screening programmes can identify some cancers or early changes before symptoms develop. We help people understand screening invitations, find reliable information and overcome practical barriers to arranging and attending appointments, including using NHS digital services.

Supporting prevention and healthier lifestyles

Not all cancers can be prevented, but there are steps people can take to reduce their risk. Working with services including Healthy Cornwall and NHS teams, we help residents access trusted advice and support around stopping smoking, healthier eating, physical activity and relevant vaccinations.

Bringing healthcare information closer to home

Some of the people most likely to experience health inequalities also face the greatest challenges accessing services. By using our Mobile Hub and trusted community relationships, we can reach residents in underserved neighbourhoods, creating welcoming opportunities to ask questions, access information and connect with appropriate healthcare services.

Building on what we’ve achieved

Our previous cancer-awareness activities have already demonstrated the difference that community-based support can make:

Helped eight people arrange cancer screening appointments.
Contributed to three people entering cancer treatment pathways.
Engaged more than 100 residents through evaluation activities.
Reached over 41,000 views of cancer-awareness messaging.

These experiences have shown us how much difference a conversation, a little reassurance or practical help with an appointment can make.

With support from Peninsula Cancer Alliance, we’re building on this work over the coming year, strengthening our connections with healthcare services and helping more people take positive steps towards better health.

Working together to improve health

Our campaign is funded by NHS Peninsula Cancer Alliance and draws on our established relationships with Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), Healthy Cornwall, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, and relevant NHS teams across Cornwall and Plymouth.

By working alongside health professionals and community organisations, we aim to connect people with trusted information, preventative services and appropriate clinical care, particularly where access to support has traditionally been difficult.

BLOT does not provide clinical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Our role is to make healthcare information more accessible, help people overcome practical barriers and connect residents with qualified professionals.

Take the next step

Whether you’re concerned about a symptom, have questions about screening or want to find out how to reduce your cancer risk, help and information are available. You don’t need to know the right words or have all the answers before asking for support.

If you’ve noticed an unusual or persistent change in your body, contact your GP for medical advice. Don’t wait for a screening invitation if you have symptoms.