• A capital C written on the left and Cancer Research UK written on the right

Talking About Cancer: Reducing Risk, Early Detection and Mythbusting

1 in 2 people will develop cancer in their lifetime. At Cancer Research UK we want to get people talking about cancer and health.

28,795 enrolled on this course

Two people discuss cancer prevention and their health
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    1 hour

Gain the tips, tools and confidence to have conversations that could save lives

This course will show you how to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle changes, use local services or visit their doctor promptly if they notice changes to their body. You’ll learn through quizzes, articles, discussion and videos demonstrating conversational dos and don’ts.

You can start now, or sign up for the next course starting 4 September when our lead educators will be active for the first 3 weeks. To join the next course sign up here.

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What topics will you cover?

  • Key facts and health messages about cancer prevention, screening and early diagnosis, and how to explain them.
  • Confidence for having conversations about cancer that help others take positive action.
  • Identification of barriers to making lifestyle changes or seeing a doctor.
  • Communication methods that overcome barriers and avoid building defensiveness and fear.
  • Methods of questioning that help people make decisions for themselves.
  • Identifying how our own feelings can affect conversations.
  • Directing people to the right places for advice and support.
  • Creating an action plan for talking about cancer.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • To have the tips, tools and confidence to engage members of the public in meaningful conversations about cancer.
  • To be aware of the key facts about cancer and be able to explain these to members of the public.
  • Identify and deal effectively with barriers and challenges to meaningful conversations.
  • Explain and direct people to the right places for support, and encourage practical action.

Who is the course for?

This course is suitable for anyone with an interest in talking about cancer and can help with conversations about health with family, friends and colleagues. It focuses on facts and myths about cancer, and how to talk to people about prevention. It may be of special interest to anyone working or volunteering in health or in their community.

The course does not require any previous experience of this subject.

What do people say about this course?

"It was relayed well with thought-provoking videos and gave sound advice on overcoming barriers to communication…very useful course giving me a chance to reflect on my role within the workplace"

"The course has surpassed my expectations not only for the valuable information related to cancer and awareness, also to the transferable ideas and tools provided…I feel much more confident in talking about cancer with others"

Who will you learn with?

Gill has been a nurse for 30 years, with a variety of experience in the cancer field. Gill joined Cancer Research UK in 2009, and is now one of the Lead Cancer Awareness Trainers at the charity.

Gwen trained as a nurse, working in a variety of settings with cancer patients before joining Cancer Research UK in 1998 on the Nurse Helpline. Gwen works as a Lead Cancer Awareness Trainer.

Who developed the course?

Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) are the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

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