FCN urges farmers to get early cancer signs checked by GP

The Farming Community Network (FCN) has launched a new campaign, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, to encourage the early detection of cancer.

FCN’s Nip it in the Bud campaign is designed to raise awareness and target those in rural communities as they can be slow to seek support for health issues.

Research has shown that farmers and seasonal workers often won’t get checked until the last minute, meaning by the time symptoms are properly checked, it is sometimes too late.

See also: Farm Doctor: On the lookout for ticks and Lyme disease

The UK-wide initiative was unveiled at the House of Lords on 12 November and received a very warm welcome from industry, with several other farming organisations pledging to support the project further.

‘Proud people’

Lord Curry of Kirkharle said farmers often find themselves not talking, so for those who are suffering, the temptation is to keep your head down, soldier on and not face up to the issues.

“Farmers are proud people and they rarely like to admit they are not coping, working or dealing with a problem that they suspect might be impacting on their health,” he said.

The FCN hears first-hand every day from people who have been affected by cancer and is working to break the stigma and create an open and honest conversation about cancer.

Jude McCann, chief executive at the FCN, said: “Farmers will often prioritise their families, their livestock, their business, their machinery and their crops above themselves.

“Conversations we have had with NHS professionals make it clear that farmers often present to the GP when symptoms are worse, which can result in poorer outcomes.”

Early detection 

Mr McCann added: “As part of our work with Macmillan, we are advocating for early detection and encouraging a culture change in farming, and motivating people to nip it in the bud.

“The sooner you get checked, the sooner you can get the treatment you need and the sooner you can get back onto the farm.”

Macmillan engagement manager, Anton Morgan-Thorne, summed up the initiative by saying: “Don’t wait, if you wait your chances are going to become less.

“From a farming perspective, if you have cancer, you are not necessarily just worried about yourself, you are going to be worried about your livelihood, your house, your family and everything else,” he added.

Cancer diagnosis

Cheshire-based dairy farmer Andy Venables discovered he had stage three cancer at the age of 35.

Mr Venables said he noticed a swollen testicle and booked a doctor’s appointment despite being 90% sure it would be fine.

After an ultrasound at the doctors, he was told he had got cancer and that it had spread to his lower back in his lymph nodes.

Mr Venables said: “Testicular cancer is one of the most curable cancers, but you have got to nip it in the bud early.

“What was a big eye-opener to me is that I had felt fine and the last thing on my mind was illness or getting cancer.”