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  »  Events News  »  Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 3-7 February 2020

Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 3-7 February 2020

by | Jan 14, 2020 | Events News

Monday 3rd to Friday 7th February is our annual Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2020 across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, culminating with Green Friday on 7th February.

Use the hashtag #KCAW2020 and instantly join the online conversation.
Now in its fifth year, Kidney Cancer Awareness Week’s goal is to get people talking about kidney cancer, highlight the many shortfalls in the route of diagnosis used across the UK, the availability of drugs and novel treatments and the care of patients throughout their cancer. It is also important to raise the overall profile of the disease within the UK government’s agenda and lift the profile of the disease across the national media. Cancers with less impact on loss of lives are given higher priority when it comes to screening programmes and awareness campaigns. And, whilst we don’t want to see any reduction in support for other cancers, the criteria needs to be clearer and the financial support scales must be evenly balanced. The disease is notoriously difficult to identify in its early stage with over 59% of patients in our  Kidney Cancer UK Patient Survey 2019 (publication 3rd February 2020) saying their diagnosis was an incidental finding, or identified during a visit to A&E. This should not be an excuse for not investing in a national screening programme, it should be the reason.
Our key message for Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2020 is to highlight the unacceptable level of late diagnosis of kidney cancer occurring too frequently across the UK. Of the 331 patients that took part in our survey over 45% were diagnosed at late stage 3 or 4
Nick Turkentine – CEO Kidney Cancer UK said; “We are calling on policy makers, healthcare professionals and charities to come together right now, to improve the outcomes of kidney cancer services in the UK and adopting a clear kidney cancer treatment pathway to ensure diagnosis is delivered in early stages. Too many lives are being lost to late diagnosis and we need to see an action to stem the tide.”
Awareness Week Plant a Seed for Research 2020
Kidney Cancer UK and Kidney Cancer Scotland are supporting research into a national kidney cancer screening programme, we receive no government funding an rely on the generosity of the public for funding. You can help us and show your support by joining in our ‘Plant a Seed for Research’ campaign.
Kidney Cancer UK and Kidney Cancer Scotland are supporting research into a national kidney cancer screening programme. We receive no government funding and rely on the generosity of the public for funding.
For a minimum donation of £5.00 we will send you a pack of Sunflower seeds to plant, from which hope and new life will grow through the research we support.100% of the profit from your donation will go to research into kidney cancer.  You can join in ‘Plant a Seed for Research’ by clicking HERE. Once your seeds start to bloom in the summer you can share pictures of your lovely flowers via our Facebook page.
Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2020 culminates with Green Friday (7th February) when we ask everyone to wear as much green as possible to show their support for all kidney cancer patients, their families and carers. We want to drive conversations and move kidney cancer in the general awareness, so the public are aware and GP’s, consultants and all medical specialists have kidney cancer high on their radar when talking to patients. On Green Friday we would love for you to share your pictures via our Facebook page.
Despite being the seventh most common cancer in the UK: the fifth most common in men and the tenth in women, kidney cancer remains relatively unheard of, but together we can change that. Each year in the UK 12,500 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer, and it accounts for three per cent of all new diagnoses. 42% of kidney cancer cases are linked to major lifestyle factors; including smoking and obesity.
We will continue to highlight findings of our Kidney Cancer Patient Survey 2019 with the objective of increasing the nation’s awareness and improving conditions, and consequently offering a brighter future for those with kidney cancer.
It is important to always talk about kidney cancer and the importance of early diagnosis which promotes awareness of this silent killer. We simply do not know who it will strike next. Be aware of the 10 signs of kidney cancer:

1. Blood in the urine
2. Persistent low back pain
3. Pain in the side, between the ribs and hipbone
4. A lump or mass in the area of the kidneys
5. Persistent high temperature
6. Night sweats
7. Persistent cough
8. Tiredness
9. Weight loss
10. Loss of appetite

Kidney Cancer Patient Survey 2019

Coming 3rd February

Read the report from our Kidney Cancer UK Patient Survey 2019 here, from 3rd February:

 
As well as the highlighting of the survey, an online social media campaign will run in the weeks leading up to, and on the day with special messaging using the hashtag #KCAW2019 so everyone can instantly join the online conversation.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION, SPREAD THE WORD!
With this Kidney Cancer Awareness Week, we want everyone to unite in the fight against kidney cancer. Start a conversation and keep talking and ask the question; What will you do to ‘Make some noise about kidney cancer’ in Kidney Cancer Awareness Week 2020?
Use the hashtag across all social media platforms #KCAW2020
Through this simple act we can make a difference and save lives.

<a href="https://www.kcuk.org.uk/author/mp/" target="_self">Malcolm Packer</a>

Malcolm Packer

Malcolm is Chief Executive Officer at Kidney Cancer UK and Kidney Cancer Scotland and has worked with the charity in various capacities for over 15 years.