iom anti-cancer association

About Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association

About Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association:

The Aims and Objectives of the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association are as follows:

• to provide funds for the purposes of Cancer Research, Medical and Scientific Developments.
• to supplement, in such manner as the Association shall think fit, any additional facilities, comforts and amenities for patients suffering from cancer as may be required, over and above those provided under the Department of Health and Social Services, for the treatment and fight against cancer and, to do such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them.

The general committee (Policy committee) consists of the following officers plus the Chairman and Secretary of each district committee:

Currently there are 8 districts of Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association throughout the Island, located as follows:

• Douglas
• Ramsey
• Peel
• Port Erin
• Castletown & Malew
• Lonan & Laxey
• Port St. Mary
• Marown & District

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association is involved in various areas of cancer services across the Isle of Man.

Staywell Clinic – Noble's Hospital
 
The Staywell Clinic provides cervical screening services for women in the Island. It operates in the evening with women-only doctors and administrative duties are carried out by volunteers from the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association. Approximately 800 women have their smear tests carried out in the Staywell Clinic which has been operated under the auspices of the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association since 1964.

The Staywell Clinic is situated at Noble's Hospital (Women's & Children's Outpatients Department) and operates from 6.30pm to 8pm on a Monday and Thursday. For more information on this service and how to make an appointment to visit the Staywell Clinic click here.

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association are always delighted to welcome new volunteers for receptionist duty and if anyone would like to 'shadow' another receptionist one evening, please telephone Carole Cowin on 628686.

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association also fund the production of the cervical screening programme leaflets used by the Department of Health & Social Security.

Take Away Skills

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association is working in partnership with DHSS Health Promotion team on a nutrition project for young people. The 'Take Away Skills' project is an educational programme teaching people how to cook healthier 'take away' type meals, with the aims to:

• improve basic cooking skills
• support healthier food choices and improving diet
• encourage effective shopping and budgeting
• increase knowledge and demonstrate behavioural change.

The 'Take Away Skills' project is aimed at people under the age of 30, but can be adapted to meet the needs of all ages. It can be facilitated by community groups in a variety of locations; increasing social, emotional and practical skills in relation to healthier food choices.

Skipping Project

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association has been working with the DHSS Health Promotion team to encourage school children to exercise through skipping. This project has its own website where schools can keep up to date on their progress. Click here to find out more.

LookAhead

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association is working with the Macmillan Cancer Information Centre, Noble's Hospital Volunteer Services and members of the Oncology team, on a project designed to support people affected by hairloss due to chemotherapy. The LookAhead project operates on a Monday evening once a fortnight. For more information on the LookAhead project, click here. Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association are providing all the funding to run the LookAhead project.

Awareness Campaigns

• Testicular Cancer Awareness: 

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer to affect men between 20-35 years old and the incidence of testicular cancer has almost doubled in the past 20 years, with over 1,800 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK. According to a recent MORI poll carried out by the Institute of Cancer Research, only 14% of young men check their testicles regularly - yet this method of early detection is both simple and effective.

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association, in partnership with the Health Promotion section of Public Health, has arranged for Wendy Gough from the Institute of Cancer Research (who promote the Everyman Campaign) to visit the Isle of Man again, to give her awareness talk to 6th form pupils attending Island schools  For further information about Everyman click here.

• Skin Cancer:

Thousands develop skin cancer in Britain because they believe the sun in Britain is not strong enough to be harmful. Many do not understand that you don’t only have to sunbathe to be vulnerable. Walking, playing sport or gardening can result in getting burned and it is now time to encourage people to 'cover up'.

Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association continues to work with the Public Health Directorate to ensure that all Island residents are aware of how to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.
  

Fundraising:

Each individual district committee holds fundraising events throughout the year raising monies for many worthwhile causes both on and off Island. For details of invidiual fundraising events, click here.

Since the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association was formed in 1959 it has raised, due solely to the generosity of the Manx people, £20 million pounds.

Part of this money has assisted Noble's Hospital in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer; and has funded entirely the salaries of doctor’s and nurses at the Staywell Clinic for Women located at Noble's Hospital.

Approximately £17 million of the above total has provided funds for research in various United Kingdom research centres, which we hope will eventually find a way of eliminating many deaths due to cancer.
 
Isle of Man Anti Cancer Association has also given funding to the following:

• Alder Hey Children’s NHS Trust
• Liverpool University Leukaemia Research
• Clatterbridge Cancer Research Trust
• Breakthrough Breast Cancer
• Royal Liverpool Hospital (Gastroenterology & Oesophageal research)
• Lymphoma Research Trust 
• Cancer Research UK
• Christie’s Hospital Manchester
• Prostate Cancer research
• Help against Liver Tumours (HALT)
• Pancreatic research
• Institute of Cancer Research - London for both Testicular research and for skin cancer research
• Broadgreen Hospital
• Ovarian Cancer Action
• Christopher's Smile
• Portsmouth University - school of pharmacy (brain research)
• Wirral Manx Society.

Thanks to the fantastic fundraising effort from people in the Isle of Man, the money continues to be spent researching ways to control cancer.

The Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association is a member of the Council of Cancer Charities (CCC). For more information about the CCC click here. To see the calendar of events for all CCC organisations, click here.