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Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Cancer fear and denial 'is killing thousands'
Thousands of people in the UK are dying unnecessarily because they are too scared to mention early symptoms of cancer to their doctor, say experts.
A survey of 2,000 for Cancer Research UK suggests 40% might delay getting symptoms checked out because they are worried what the doctor might find.
Yet early diagnosis is key to treating cancer successfully.
Data suggest that if Great Britain matched Europe's best cancer survival rate 11,500 deaths could be avoided.
Prof Peter Johnson of Cancer Research UK said: "Our report highlights just how much more we have to do to raise awareness about the early signs of cancer.
"If patients are diagnosed when the cancer is still in its early stages before it has had a chance to spread to other parts of the body it is more likely that treatment will be successful. That is why it is so important for people to be aware of things that might be early signs of cancer."
The poll findings suggest a quarter of patients might delay seeing their GP with symptoms because they fear they could be wasting their doctor's time.
And many do not recognise which symptoms may suggest cancer.
More than three-quarters of people asked to list possible warning signs and symptoms of cancer failed to mention pain, coughing or problems with bowels or bladder.
And more than two-thirds also failed to list bleeding.
Prof Johnson said: "Of course we are all frightened of hearing that we may have cancer. But people need to know that catching the disease early gives them much better odds of surviving it.
"The best precaution anyone can take is to be on the lookout for any changes in their bodies that seem unusual for them and to get them checked by a doctor.
"We know that in many cases these things won't turn out to be cancer. But don't take the gamble of missing out on early diagnosis."
Cancer Research UK has teamed up with Tesco to raise £10m to fund 32 early diagnosis research projects across the UK. Cancer Research UK leaflets on early signs of cancer will be on display at the store's checkouts.
source: bbc.co.uk
Monday, 5 March 2012
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Montracon Limited fined over worker's tragic death
A FACTORY in East Yorkshire has been fined £100,000 over an accident in which 59-year-old worker was killed.
Refrigerated trailer builder Montracon Limited, of Market Weighton, failed to prevent the collapse of a two-to-three-ton steel vacuum lifter which fell on to the head of father and grandfather Ronald Wood, 59.
A judge at Hull Crown Court described the tragedy, which happened in September 2009, as “an accident waiting to happen.”
“This is a tragic case,” said Judge James Sampson. “The sympathy of the court goes out to Mr Wood’s family. The penalty open to the court is wholly insufficient to reflect their loss.”
The court heard that in the weeks leading up to the accident, the vacuum lifter – called a spider – had been hit repeatedly, possibly five times, and fell off its storage bracket after being struck again by a moving refrigeration trailer – one of 53 being built for a supermarket chain.
Mr Wood had worked at the factory, which has a sister factory at Wilberfoss, near York, since November 2008.
He was directly under the spider looking in to a parts bin in the finishing area when the accident happened.
Montracon pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to discharge its duty under the 1974 Health and Safety Act.
Prosecuting barrister Katherine Blackwell, for the Health and Safety Executive, said Mr Wood was described by his employers as a “valued employee who was well-liked and respected by all.”
She said the HSE had prosecuted after finding the firm did not have procedures for reporting near misses and no training was given to employers guiding trailers.
Defence barrister Frank O’Donougue, QC, denied the accident was the result of cost cutting and said the lack of proper risk assessment was because the firm had lost its health and safety workers in the recession.
He said Mr Wood’s family had received a civil settlement plus a £30,000 death in service benefit.
source: yorkpress.co.uk
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