STV Health Centre

A new programme called Detect Cancer Early has been launched by the Scottish Government in a bid to save hundred of lives a year.

The drive is part of a £30m plan to improve cancer survival rates by increasing the number of Scots diagnosed in the earliest stages of the disease by a quarter.

The programme will run for three years and aims to save more than 300 lives a year by the end of the next Parliamentary term.

Split into three stages, the campaign will begin by focusing on the benefits of speedy diagnosis and the importance of presenting early symptoms of cancer to your GP.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance it can be treated successfully.

“More lives can be saved in Scotland through prevention of cancer and through earlier detection and better treatment and that is why we need to encourage people to see their GP as early as possible if they have any concerns.”

The average survival rate for cancer has doubled over the past 30 years and half of all people diagnosed with the disease now survive for at least five years.

The programme hopes to build on this, initially concentrating on the three most common cancers in Scotland - breast, bowel and lung.

The £30m funding will be used to increase screening capacity, support diagnosis and treatment, increase the rate of early referral, and support additional treatments.

Audrey Birt, chair of the Scottish cancer coalition, said: “We hope this initiative will help overcome the fear of cancer and raise awareness levels of cancer signs and symptoms helping people know what to look for and so get that crucial early detection."

NHS inform’s Detect Cancer Early guide suggests some common signs of cancer. These symptoms do not necessarily mean a person has got cancer but could indicate that something else is wrong.

If you are worried about any of these symptoms, NHS inform advise visiting your GP to get it checked.

• A new lump which appears or gets bigger, in the breasts, testicles or anywhere else
• A sore that doesn't heal up – in the mouth, throat or skin
• A mole that changes shape, size or colour
• Any growth that appears on the skin and continues to grow
• Coughing up blood, or blood in the urine or mixed through stools
• Things that refuse to clear up, like a cough that never goes away, or a pain somewhere that won’t settle
• A change in the pattern of going the toilet
• Unexpected weight loss (that's not because you’ve been on a diet)

For more information on how to detect cancer early, visit the NHS inform website.

Useful links:

• Lung cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Breast cancer
• Common health questions on cancer
• Support services directory
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• Cancer Research UK