The Cork Cancer Action Network (CCAN) was established in 2015 and is a collaboration of Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project, Cork City Council, Cork Healthy Cities, Cork Traveller Visibility Group, HSE Cork North Community Work Department, National Screening Service HSE, Irish Cancer Society, Mayfield Integrated Community Development Project, NICHE and Travellers Of North Cork.
This partnership has set out to investigate new ways to work in partnership around cancer prevention and health inequalities. The organisations involved have a strong history of collaborative working in health, community development and social inclusion in Cork.
The network aims to work collaboratively to investigate new ways to bridging the gap in inequalities associated with cancer. A report by the National Cancer Registry “Cancer Projections for Ireland 2015-2040” indicate that one in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. The good news is that up to 50% of cancer could be prevented through lifestyle changes and early detection. However data shows that those in marginalised communities have a far great risk of both getting cancer and dying younger from cancer than those living in more affluent areas.
In 2016 the Cork Cancer Action Network developed a cancer prevention toolkit for communities – “Establishing a community focused approach to cancer prevention with a focus on health inequalities and disadvantaged communities” The aim of this Toolkit is for communities to use at a local level to assist in identifying their health needs and priorities as well as gaps in service provision. The Toolkit is aimed at communities who want to take action around health and wellbeing or cancer prevention. It is an important tool for demonstrating the need for collaborative work and health in all sectors if we are going to tackle the inequalities associated with cancer and other chronic diseases.
Click here to access the Toolkit
