East Belfast Community Development Agency

The Health Development & Connections Programmes Health Team and their Lay Health Information Workers along with Community Workers from East Belfast all enjoyed an informative and educational tour of the Centre for Cancer Research & Cell Biology (CCRCB) on Monday 22nd November 2010. The tour was hosted by Helen Barnes the Local Engagement & Development Officer for Cancer Research UK based in Belfast City Hospital. They also had a tour of the Cancer Unit in Belfast City Hospital which was hosted by Ruth Boyd Senior Nurse for Cancer Research UK.

Cancer is the name given to a range of specific illnesses resulting from one of our body's own cells growing out of control. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with different causes and symptoms requiring different treatments. In the UK in 2008, there were 156,723 deaths from cancer and every two minutes someone is newly diagnosed with it.

The participants had a rare opportunity to see inside the laboratories where research is carried out into cell biology and advancements and studies are carried out on cancer cells. These enabled the participants to get an insight into all the hard work that the scientists put into trying to find better treatments for cancer patients and were able to ask questions to better understand the processes used and progression and advances that are being made.