National bowel cancer campaign: Pharmacy factsheet

“A national campaign will launch in England on January 30 to raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer, and encourage people with symptoms to visit their GP. The Department, with Cancer Research UK, has developed a Pharmacy factsheet in advance of the launch of the campaign, to support pharmacists and their teams with information about bowel cancer and how they can prepare for the possible increase in the number of customers asking questions about bowel cancer or presenting with the relevant symptoms or purchasing relevant over-the-counter medicines.  This factsheet has been written with the input of pharmacy representatives.  
 

The pharmacy factsheet and further information for pharmacists and their teams is available here.  Please send this factsheet and link to pharmacists and pharmacy staff in your network to promote awareness of the campaign, ensure that they have access to resources to support them and to encourage them to engage in this campaign.The factsheet notes that one source of support in raising the subject of cancer with patients is BOPA’s E-learning Centre. The centre has training for both pharmacists and for pharmacy team members about raising awareness of cancer in a pharmacy setting, with a whole module on bowel cancer. This is free to access once you have registered on the website.”