Resources and Tools for Ovarian Cancer

Be Clear on Cancer - Ovarian campaign logo

Learning and Development Tools

Visit the CRUK learning and development tools page for further information, resources and tools.

Find out more

Resources prepared for the regional ovarian cancer campaign, which ran in the North West of England from 10 February to 16 March 2014, are available on this page.

Briefing sheets are available for the following groups who are essential to the success of the campaign:

GP briefing sheet

Nurses briefing sheet

Practice managers briefing sheet

Pharmacist briefing sheet

NHS trusts briefing sheet

Community champions and volunteers briefing sheet

These are electronic briefings with links to further information. All are print friendly. Please do pass these on to colleagues as appropriate so they can get up to date on the campaign too.

A range of additional Be Clear on Cancer materials have been developed centrally by the Department of Health for the ovarian cancer campaign, including symptom cards, leaflets and posters:

Download campaign materials

The ovarian cancer campaign leaflet is also available in an easy-read format:

Download an easy-read version of the campaign leaflet

Download a large-print version of the campaign leaflet

The public-facing website for the Be Clear on Cancer Campaign is NHS Choices and several dedicated campaign websites have been created on http://www.nhs.uk/be-clear-on-cancer/. Watch the ovarian cancer TV advert and listen to the radio adverts - take a look and refresh your memory of what your patients will be seeing and hearing during the campaign period.

You can order hard copies of leaflets and posters directly from the Health and Social Care Orderline or call 0300 123 1002

Hard copies of accessible versions (e.g. easy read and braille) of the information leaflet can be ordered by contacting enquiries@phe.gov.uk

Translating materials, while important, may not always be the best approach. Be Clear on Cancer materials are written in plain, straightforward English. This is often more accessible for less literate English speakers than complex translated materials. Public Health England have developed a document that provides guidance on things to consider before translating materials into difference languages.

Review guidance on translating (.doc)

The Department of Health recently published 'Direct access to diagnostic tests for cancer: best practice referral pathways for general practitioners'. The guidance aims to help GPs in determining which patients would be suitable for direct referral to local services providing the diagnostic tests.

It deals specifically with the circumstances and symptoms that may warrant such referrals and is aimed at healthcare professionals across primary and secondary care and those who both provide and commission services.

The free-to-access RCGP Online Learning Tool ‘Bloating and Other Abdominal Symptoms: Could it be Ovarian Cancer' in association with Target Ovarian Cancer, is based on the NICE Clinical Guideline CG122 and is primarily targeted at general practitioners but is suitable for a wide range of clinicians. Through a series of case studies the module is an opportunity to think in greater detail about presenting symptoms; and consider which factors might distinguish ovarian cancer from common conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infection and ovarian cysts, themselves, the most common misdiagnosis among women with ovarian cancer.

A toolkit developed by Lancashire & South Cumbria Cancer Network. It’s free to access and has a dedicated section on ovarian cancer.

If you’re a pharmacist or a member of the pharmacy team and your customer/patient is complaining of the key symptoms or is using an over the counter (OTC) medicine connected to feeling bloated, you can ask some key questions. These include how long they’ve been suffering the symptoms or using the OTC medicine and whether they have spoken to their GP. We know that people delay going to see their GP for a variety of reasons. They might be embarrassed, not realise their symptoms are serious or worry about wasting their GP’s time.

Be confident and where relevant, give customers permission to visit their GP. If you feel comfortable tell the customer to mention that their pharmacist sent them. It may be the push they need to get themselves checked out.

If you are a pharmacy counter assistant or member of the pharmacy team, be confident and follow your normal protocol. If you are concerned about a customer and feel uncomfortable talking about cancer, ask your pharmacist to speak to them or, if that isn’t possible, encourage the customer to go to see their GP and get their symptoms checked out. The chances are it’s nothing to worry about, but if it is cancer, it’s better for it to be detected early.

One source of support that can help you with raising the subject of cancer with patients is the British Oncology Pharmacy Association’s E-learning Centre. The centre has training for pharmacists and pharmacy team members about raising awareness of cancer in a pharmacy setting. This is free to access once you have registered on the website.

Source cancer statistics for your practice or local area using the following tools:

View Cancer Research UK local cancer statsFind and compare statistical information and intelligence about cancer in areas across the UK. Available data includes cancer incidence, survival and mortality, early diagnosis, screening and smoking.

View Public Health England's GP Practice Profiles. Source information about key indicators relating to cancer services for most GP practices in England and aims to help GP practices consider which services they offer to their patients.

The following ovarian cancer charities also provide information and resources for primary healthcare professionals:

Be Clear on Cancer statement

Be Clear on Cancer was a cancer awareness campaign led by Public Health England, working in partnership with the Department of Health and NHS England. This page contains links to documents that we hope you find useful. Please note however that the views or opinions expressed within those links are not necessarily those of Cancer Research UK.

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Local cancer statistics

Use Local Cancer Statistics to find and compare statistical information and intelligence about cancer in areas across the UK. Data covers healthcare areas, consitituencies, local authorities and postcode.