Cancer, Pregnancy and General Practice.

In April 2024, we launched our first every Awareness Week aimed exclusively at Healthcare Professionals. This was an opportunity to raise awareness of cancer and pregnancy amongst staff working in General Practice and local surgeries.

Our aim was to increase the likelihood of early diagnosis and improve prognosis for the two people a day diagnosed with cancer in or around a pregnancy.

Monday - Will you be the one?

Some mums and birthing parents will visit their GP with cancer symptoms or concerns while perinatal. Others may not be aware of their symptoms but will still visit their GP surgery for a routine appointment or procedure.

Both are opportunities to see the symptom and begin a thorough exploration to either diagnose or rule out cancer.

We want the whole Practice Team to be aware that they could be the one to spot cancer symptoms first!

Tuesday - Symptom masking

For Reception and other bookings and administrative staff

We know how hard you work to triage all the potential patients that contact you every day, and how tricky it can be to manage your GPs’ schedules. Which is why we want to make sure you are aware of symptom masking.

Many cancer symptoms can be masked by the expected physical and emotional changes of being perinatal. If a pregnant or post-natal patient presents with symptoms that would be a cause for concern in someone who isn’t, remember symptom masking and consider making them an appointment.

Wednesday - Speak up and safety net

For Clinical Staff, inc. Practice Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Clinical Pharmacists, Paramedics and Community Midwives.

We know how hard you work to make sure patients have their needs met, and how you help keep on top of routine appointments and tests, as well as more urgent matters. Your role and the patient's appointment may have nothing to do with cancer or the concerning symptom, but your proximity and the conversation you have might reveal potential red-flags.

Be kind but firm and remember: your instincts are important!

And if you suspect their symptoms are not cancer related, it is still important to use clear safety-netting to ensure they know what to do if symptoms change or persist.

Thursday - Refer and rule it out

for GPs

We know how hard you work to ensure patients feel heard, reassured and well looked after, all in an incredibly short amount of time. If you have any suspicion of cancer in a perinatal patient we want you to strongly consider the steps you can take to refer them and rule it out.

From baseline bloods to Non-Specific Symptoms Pathways, we encourage you to trust your instincts and use all available options to explore thoroughly and reach a clear diagnostic conclusion.

Friday & Saturday - Working together

Research from the University of Surrey's @CancerAtSurrey team is revealing the vital importance of emotional support for mums and birthing parents diagnosed with cancer in or around pregnancy, and how this is currently severely lacking.

We know that time and resources in general practice are limited and that you are already working hard to fulfil vital roles, so we want you to know that you can call on Mummy's Star to work with you to provide the full spectrum of support to your patients.

A brand new resource pack

As part of the awareness campaign we also created an awareness pack highlighting our key messages from the week, including bold posters perfect for staff rooms and surgeries, useful case studies and statistics and more. These can still be ordered, along with our other leaflets and resources, by completing a simple form.