Question reference: S6W-02310
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 17 August 2021
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 October 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it is doing to increase public awareness of (a) melanoma and (b) other skin cancers (i) among people under 35 and (ii) in general.
Answer
Our Detect Cancer Early (DCE) Programme is aimed at increasing early diagnosis rates of Scotland’s most common cancers while reducing health inequalities. Following an options appraisal exercise, melanoma was selected as the next tumour type for inclusion in the DCE Programme in 2016.
DCE’s website (getcheckedearly.org) and digital channels help to increase awareness of symptoms of a number of tumour groups, including melanoma, on an ongoing basis. The Programme also works closely with third sector to share patient experience stories, to prompt others to take action.
DCE launched a new overarching campaign – Survivors - in September 2018 to reduce fear of cancer and empower people to act early, if they noticed any possible signs of cancer. The NHS Recovery Plan, published 25 August 2021, commits a further £20 million investment to the DCE Programme which will include additional public awareness campaigns.