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Cancer conference held to get people talking

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromThe Forum, Norwich
Shaun Whitmore/BBC A series of charity stalls, with banners within The Forum, with many people visible in the image on either side of a row of tables, bearing information leaflets and promotional itemsShaun Whitmore/BBC
About 35 charities offering support for patients with cancer attended the first Talking About Cancer Together event at The Forum

A conference has been held to encourage conversations about cancer to help people get an early diagnosis and treatment.

Talking About Cancer Together saw about 35 charities that offer care and support attend the event at The Forum in Norwich on Wednesday.

Speakers explained how stigma associated with cancer can dramatically affect chances of survival because some patients feel too embarrassed to seek medical attention for early symptoms.

Kate Doe, from Community Action Norfolk, said: "Being diagnosed early with cancer is really important because it can change your outcome."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Kate Doe, from Community Action Norfolk, is wearing a black dress and black top, with silver necklace. She has long auburn hair with a light streak of colouring at the front. She is standing near cancer charity stalls at an event at The Forum in Norwich.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Kate Doe, from Community Action Norfolk, says early diagnosis is crucial

She added: "If we diagnose cancer within stage one, there's a much higher chance of survival compared to if we diagnose at stage three and stage four.

"We're seeing people get diagnosed in A&E because they've left it and they've become really unwell and sadly the outcomes aren't as good as if they were in stage one.

"We've had a couple of men saying they've got prostate cancer and they didn't realise there was any support for them.

"They're now on a palliative pathway and they didn't know about support for their family and loved ones.

"Where people have accessed the support, the wives and children get involved, the men get involved, so they then look at their finances and make more of a plan so it's a much well rounded feeling for the family."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Toby Freeman, standing by his charity stall within The Forum in Norwich. He is wearing a black hoodie with a logo stating "Thrive against cancer" and wearing a black baseball cap. He has a full beard and moustache and wears glasses.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Toby Freeman set up a cancer charity in honour of his brother Robin, who died aged 23 from testicular cancer
Supplied Robin Freeman, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his early 20s, has short hair and is wearing a grey and white striped top. He is hugging his mum, who has auburn hair and is wearing a brown jersey. They are pictured in a room which features floral patterned curtains and pictures in the background.Supplied
Robin Freeman, pictured with his mum, was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and died within ten months of diagnosis.

Toby Freeman founded Robin's Cancer Trust in memory of his brother who died aged 23 of testicular cancer in 2011.

He said: "My brother was 23; prime of his life and fit, healthy, active and very health conscious.

"But unfortunately he ignored some signs and symptoms and we didn't know until it was too late and he got a late stage testicular cancer diagnosis and we lost him within 10 months.

"We work really hard to break the stigma, embarrassment and start the conversations because we know testicular cancer, particularly, is 96% curable if caught early."

Supplied Angharad Binder, with long straight hair, wearing a white top with black stripes. She is next to her father Robert Bendall, who is undergoing treatment for bowel cancer. He is wearing a checked shirt and black jacket, and he has close cropped hair.Supplied
Angharad Binder is working with Macmillan to promote better health among the farming community

Angharad Binder's family farms mixed arable and livestock, running a farm shop at Hadleigh in Suffolk.

Her father Robert Bendall was diagnosed with stage fpur bowel cancer in 2023, and was given six months to live.

Working for the Farming Community Network, she runs a programme on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support.

She said: "My dad in May 2023 was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer and given six weeks to live. He's still here with us.

"We're working as a family to support that and it's making us have those conversations, particularly around succession and how we manage the family farm."

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