NHS Forth Valley is marking World Cancer Day today, February 4, by highlighting how it's helping to turn Scotland's Big C into the wee c.

The wee c campaign, launched by the Scottish Government six months ago in partnership with Cancer Research UK, aims to change the way cancer is viewed in the country in order to reduce fear around the disease and increase survival rates.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser:

The local health board spoke about the importance of catching cancer early through telling people about the potential signs and symptoms and inviting them to screenings.

The health promotion team was busy delivering bowel cancer training across the area to spread knowledge and awareness. According to the team, participants said they were now more likely to do the bowel screening test and were all going to tell family and friends about the disease.

NHS Forth Valley medical director Miss Tracey Gillies said: “We’re proud to be contributing to Scotland’s wee c vision, with our clinicians, researchers, nurses, screening teams, porters and many more working every day to help bring cancer down to size.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser:

“Everyone has a role to play in improving our cancer survival rates. Remember that the sooner cancer is found, the easier it is to treat so, if you notice any persistent or unusual changes, see your doctor sooner rather than later.”

The average ten year survival rate for cancer has doubled over the past 30 years – now two in four people survive, compared to one in four in the 1970s.

A range of projects have been launched around the country to treat the disease and raise awareness. The latest statistics show that a record number of 500,000 people in Scotland are returning their bowel screening tests every year with a 58.1 per cent uptake in the NHS Forth Valley area amongst those eligible.

Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser:

Health secretary Shona Robison added: “Thanks to innovation and investment, there are around 176,000 people in Scotland who have been diagnosed with cancer over the last 20 years and who are still alive – over double the population of Inverness.

“Reframing the way cancer is viewed goes hand-in-hand with boosting survival rates and everyone can play a part.

“If we can raise awareness of what is being done to tackle cancer, we’ll hopefully, in time, be able to address the fear people have in seeing their GP or attending their screening appointment.

“The earlier you come forward to get checked or screened, the better, it could save your life.”