In support of World Cancer Day, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is holding a raft of events at the recently opened Strand by Me shop in Bootle.

Global World Cancer Day takes place on 4 February uniting the planet population in the fight against cancer. It aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and educating people about the illness.

The event at the community and health shop inside Bootle’s Strand shopping centre will take place over five days from Monday 1 February. It will see the CCG, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK, Aintree University Hospital and Sefton Pensioners’ Advocacy Centre (SPAC) offering advice to those living with and beyond cancer.

Dr Debbie Harvey, a Macmillan GP from NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “The event is a chance for those affected by cancer in the area to come together and meet like-minded people as well as getting some useful advice.

“We want to make it easier for people to get the information they need to support them living with cancer. People often say they are not aware of the help available locally so we want to improve that. We hope that this event builds awareness of what is out there in the community and is beneficial.”

A practice nurse from NHS South Sefton CCG will also be on site to speak to people about cervical cancer and how important it is for women to have regular screenings, following on from Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (24-30 January 2016).

Davina Hanlon, consultant and cancer screening lead at Public Health, Sefton Council, said: “We really support events like this as they are so beneficial in reminding people what is out there to support them. Thousands of lives are saved each year from people going for cancer screenings and I can’t stress enough how important it is to have them.

“There are three types of screenings; cervical for women aged 25-64, breast for 50-70 year old women and bowel which is a home testing kit offered to men and women aged 60-74. You will receive letters when you are due an appointment and I would urge you to book.”

The full schedule for the week-long event at Strand by Me is below:

Monday 1 February
Macmillan information and resources drop in

Tuesday 2 February

Specialist nurses from Aintree University Hospital will be on hand to speak to visitors about Breast, Bladder, Kidney, Prostate and Bowel Cancer. 

Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 February

Cancer Research UK will have ‘Smokerlyzer’ Carbon Monoxide breath tests and can offer BMI checks and general health checks over the two days.

A practice nurse from NHS South Sefton CCG will also be on site to chat to those affected by cancer and to encourage women to go for regular cervical screening tests.

Friday 5 February

Sefton Pensioners’ Advocacy Centre (SPAC) information day.

No need to book, just pop in on the day and there is also a private room available for confidential meetings if required.

Strand by Me opened in September 2015 and is managed by Sefton CVS in partnership with NHS South Sefton CCG. For more information visit: www.seftoncvs.org.uk/strandbyme