Reaching out to the community by Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle

Health Reporter Helen Rae finds out how Polish residents in the North East have been learning to spot cancer symptoms.
POLISH residents at a special festival on Tyneside heard first-hand how to recognise the early signs of cancer.
The Made in Poland Festival invited the Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC) to inform its Polish visitors of the risk factors of breast, bowel and lung cancers.
HCC works across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland to increase awareness of cancer symptoms and encourage people to go to their GP if they have any concerns.
The festival, which is in its third year, and includes music from Polish DJs, traditional Polish cuisine and Polish-inspired art and literature, welcomed speakers from the HCC to speak to Polish women at the Lit and Phil, Westgate Road, Newcastle.
More than 40 visitors attended the event, which was especially aimed at Polish women, to hear presentations from cancer specialists as well as the opportunity to take part in a questions and answers session.
Leaflets about the causes and symptoms of cancer which were translated into Polish were available on the day.
Popular Polish jazz singer Anna Maria Jopek was also a special guest at the three-hour event.
Acting director of public health for Newcastle Primary Care Trust (PCT) Dr Meng Khaw said: “We are committed to providing a high quality service and understand that for people whose first language is not English, they can be apprehensive when accessing services.
“It is therefore a great opportunity for us to reach the Polish community directly by attending popular events like the Made in Poland Festival, where residents can gain an awareness of how to prevent certain cancers, the early signs of disease and how they can seek help.
“Newcastle has some of the highest death rates from bowel, breast and lung cancer compared to other areas of the country and research has shown that a major factor in this is people delay visiting their GP when they suspect something is wrong.
“We hope the presence of the Healthy Communities Collaborative will help to inform Polish residents of how they can take action should they suspect they may be ill.”
Project manager North of Tyne HCC – Cancer, Leslie Davie, added: “Lung cancer is prevalent in the Polish population and reflects high smoking rates. Cancer is not freely discussed in Poland and take-up rates of cancer screening services are low.
“We are hoping by using the HCC method of raising awareness of the early signs of breast, bowel and lung cancer by freely discussing the subject, that we can encourage the local Polish community to access their GP for advice as well as the NHS cancer screening services.”
Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland have some of the highest death rates from bowel, breast and lung cancer compared to other areas of the country.
As part of the project, health professionals work together with members of the community and other local organisations to talk about the diseases.
Volunteers work with the HCC project manager, going along to bingo halls, church groups and local community events to speak to people in places they feel comfortable and to raise awareness of symptoms.

Health Reporter Helen Rae finds out how Polish residents in the North East have been learning to spot cancer symptoms.
Signs to look out for
SYMPTOMS to look out for:
Bowel cancer:
A feeling that you want to go to the toilet even after you have just been
A persistent change in bowel habit for example, diarrhoea or constipation that lasts for more than four weeks
Sudden weight loss without dieting
Unexplained, extreme tiredness
Bloating, swelling or severe pain in the tummy or bottom
Bleeding from the bottom without a reason such as piles, or bleeding when straining.
Breast cancer:
A lump or thickening in an area of the breast
A change in the size or shape of a breast
Dimpling of the skin
A change in the shape of your nipple, particularly if it turns in, sinks into the breast or becomes irregular in shape
A blood-stained discharge from the nipple
A rash on a nipple or surrounding area
A swelling or lump in your armpit.
Lung cancer:
Having a cough most of the time
A change in a cough you have had for a long time
Being short of breath
Coughing up phlegm (sputum) with signs of blood in it
An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Losing weight.

The pleasure is ours…

The pleasure is ours…The summer holidays have just finished, and we are happy to be guests in your homes once again. We would like to thank you for your continued support as we now run into our fourth year of publication.Thanks are extended from all of the 2B Team, to editor Danka Kudłacik and a very special thank you to 2B creators Anna Fraszczyk and Marta Zielinska who originally invited us to join them in this magazine endevour. However, the time has come when we must think about going our separate ways. Before we say our final farewells we would like to ask if you would consider joining our writing team here at 2B. This is your chance! It would be a great pleasure to see our column filled by you!’
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