Signs of cancerSymptoms, Screening and Staying Healthy

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This booklet uses easy wordsand pictures to help you getinformation about cancer.

You might want someone tohelp you look at the bookletso you can talk about it.

This booklet can help youlearn about cancer. But this is not the same as talking toyour doctor. If you are worried about your health, you should talk to a doctor or nurse.

There is a Word Bank at theback of the booklet to helpwith hard words. Any wordsin bold you can find in theWord Bank.

Signs of cancer

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Signs of cancer

Cancer can cause signsand symptoms in yourbody. You can look out for these.

Sometimes these signsand symptoms arecaused by other illnesses.But it is important to havethem checked.

If you have any of the following symptoms seeyour doctor as quicklyas possible.

Signs of cancer

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Signs of cancer

If you lose weight but donot know why.

If you have a nasty coughor sore throat that doesnot go away.

See your doctor:If you start to feel tired allthe time.

Signs of cancer

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Signs of cancer

See your doctor:If you have a lump underyour skin anywhere onyour body. Even if it doesnot hurt.

If you have moles on yourskin which have changedshape or colour, orstarted to bleed.

If you have an ache orpain that does not goaway and you do notknow why.

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Signs of cancer

If there is blood in yourwee or poo.

If you find it hard to do apoo (constipation).

See your doctor:If you find it hard to swallow food or drink.

Signs of cancer

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Signs of cancer

See your doctor:If you have runny poos(diarrhoea).

If you do not feel hungry(lose your appetite).

If you get bruises for noreason.

Signs of cancer

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Signs of cancer

Some people who havecancer do not show any ofthese signs or symptoms.

Some cancers like breastcancer and cervicalcancer may not causeany pain or symptoms.

See your doctor:If you have a headacheall the time.

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Signs of cancer

It is very important to gofor screening. Screeningmeans having tests thatcan find cancer early.

Older people are morelikely to get certain cancers.

Sometimes these cancers are found because the person goesto their doctor about something else.

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Signs of cancer

If you are over 60 you willget a bowel cancer testsent to you through thepost. This is called anF.O.B test.

It is very important to dothis test. It asks you totake 6 samples of yourpoo and send them back.

Bowel cancer is morecommon in people overthe age of 60.

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Signs of cancer

If any blood is found inyour poo, you will beasked to go for moretests.

They will test for blood inyour poo. This can sometimes be a sign ofcancer.

Word Bank

Drawing by Tracey HarrisonVolunteer and Illustrator with learning disabilities

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Word Bank

Bowel cancerWhen a person has cancer in their bowel. The bowel is a long tubeinside your body. It helpsto digest food.

Breast cancerWhen a person has cancer in their breast.

Cervical cancerWhen a person has cancer in their cervix. Thecervix is inside your bodyat the top of your vagina.

ConstipationFinding it hard to have apoo.

Word Bank

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DiarrhoeaWhen your poo is wateryand runny and you haveto go more than usual.

F.O.B. testThis stands for FaecalOccult Blood test. It is atest to check if your poohas blood in it.

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Word Bank

ScreeningThese are special teststhat can sometimes findcancer early.

SymptomsSigns in your body thattell you something iswrong, like feeling tiredall the time.

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Notes

Useful contacts

Drawing by Tracey HarrisonVolunteer and Illustrator with learning disabilities

Helpful organisations

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Useful contacts

Breast Cancer CareGives information and support to women with breast cancer, and theirfamily and friends.Phone: 0808 800 6000Web: www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Brook Brook gives young people free, confidential information about health,sex and relationships. Find your local Brook centre on their website.Web: www.brook.org.uk

Cancer Research UKA charity that is researching treatments for cancer. Its website has lotsof information about cancer.Phone: 0808 800 4040Web: www.cancerresearchuk.org

Macmillan Cancer SupportA charity that helps people who have cancer. They give practical, medical and financial support. They try to make cancer care in the UK better.Phone: 0808 808 00 00Web: www.macmillan.org.uk

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Useful contacts

NHS ContactsThese contacts give you information about your health and health services:England and Scotland Phone: 111Wales Phone: 0845 46 47Northern Ireland Web: www.hscni.net

Paul’s Cancer Support CentreGives help, information and complementary therapies to people withcancer. Phone: 0207 924 3924Web: www.paulscancersupportcentre.org.uk

RESPONDGives therapy to people with learning disabilities after trauma or abuse.They also offer training and support to carers.Phone: 0808 808 07 00Web: www.respond.org.uk

Written and audio material

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Useful contacts

Books Beyond WordsA series of picture books for people with learning disabilities. The bookstalk about cancer, health and bereavement.Web: www.booksbeyondwords.co.ukPhone: 020 8877 9799Email: admin@booksbeyondwords.co.uk

Cervical Screening - Information for Women with Learning DisabilitiesAn information folder for women with learning disabilities about going for cervical screening. Produced by Elfrida Rathbone Camden. Phone: 020 7424 1601Web: www.elfridacamden.org.uk

FAIR MultimediaPublishes a range of health leaflets, audio discs and CDs for peoplewith learning disabilities. This includes a series on cancer.Email: fair@fairadvice.org.ukPhone: 0131 662 1962Web: www.fairadvice.org.uk/health-publications.php

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Useful contacts

Online helpwww.easyhealth.org.ukHas lots of online health information that is easy to understand.

www.macmillan.org.ukHas lots of information aboutcancer and where to get help.You can also talk to other people with cancer in the online community.

Taking Good Care - supporting people with learning disabilities to be breast aware.Easy read booklet about looking after your breasts for women with learning disabilities. Also includes a guide for carers. Produced by Breast Cancer Care and Cardiff People First.

Breast Cancer CareWeb: www.breastcancercare.org.ukPhone: 0808 800 6000

Cardiff People First Phone: 029 2023 1555

Videos and DVDs

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Useful contacts

Leeds Animation WorkshopHas animated films on social issues for people with learning disabilities.There is one called ‘Getting Better’ about going to the doctor and thehealth clinic.Phone: 0113 248 4997Web: www.leedsanimation.org.uk/index.html

Speak Up Self AdvocacyHas DVDs and booklets for people with learning disabilities abouthealth and illness.Web: www.speakup.org.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support has reviewed the information in thisbooklet and paid for it to be produced. They are a charity whohelp people with cancer. They have nurses and other healthworkers. They try to make cancer care in the UK better. Theyhave experts who can answer your questions about cancer andhow it affects your life. You can callMacmillan on 0808 808 00 00or textphone 0808 808 0121 (Mon–Fri, 9am–8pm). Or go tomacmillan.org.uk

CHANGE is a leading national Human Rights organisation led bydisabled people. We work for equal rights for all people withlearning disabilities. The cancer books and booklets thatCHANGE have produced are part of an ongoing campaign toraise awareness about the issues of cancer for people withlearning disabilities. You can call CHANGE on 0113 242 6619,email info@changepeople.org or find us at www.changepeople.org

This easy read booklet was produced by CHANGE © CHANGE 2016