The Oldham community learning disability team hosted group sessions to help teach people with learning difficulties about how to spot cancer.
The team is ran by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the Shared Lives Oldham scheme, part of the MioCare Group.
The most recent sessions in the campaign focused on how to spot the signs of testicular, cervical, breast and bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with almost 43,000 people diagnosed every year.
As part of the session, the attendees were shown how to perform an at-home bowel screening test, using a chocolate truffle mixture.
People with learning disabilities are two and a half times more likely to have health problems than the general population, with cancer as a leading cause of death.
However, they are less likely to spot the signs of cancer or attend screening appointments.
Marie Roberts, senior learning disability nurse, said: “We know that people with a learning disability experience significant health inequalities, particularly around cancer- so it’s really important we support them to spot the signs the early."
The sessions also included gender-based segments, where the group split off into two sections.
The men focused on how to properly check for signs of testicular cancer, while the women focused on cervical cancer, breast cancer and the screening processes.
Marie said this helps to "take away a fear of the unknown".
The group also had a wider focus on how to look after overall health and wellbeing as well as what support attendees can access.
Those who attended gave positive feedback, with one person, Peter, saying: “It was very interesting and I learnt a lot about my health. I’m now a lot more confident about what to regularly check for.”
The group have future sessions planned and people with learning difficulties can find out more information by calling 0161 770 3770 or emailing pcn-tr.OldhamCLDSreferrals@nhs.net
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