It’s Oesophageal Cancer Awareness Month in the UK, and we’re planning to deliver a month-long awareness campaign that we believe could genuinely save lives.
The Concept: SILENCE
Too many people live with symptoms for far too long without saying anything. Whether it’s persistent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, or unexplained weight loss, the signs of oesophageal cancer are often dismissed, ignored, or simply never spoken about.
That silence can be deadly.
SILENCE is a campaign built around a simple but powerful truth: what goes unsaid can be the most dangerous thing of all. By drawing attention to the conversations people aren’t having – with their partners, their GPs, even with themselves – the campaign encourages people to reflect on how long they’ve stayed quiet, and to take the next step sooner.
The Objective: Turn Silence into Conversation
Awareness campaigns work best when they don’t just inform – they prompt action. SILENCE isn’t about overwhelming people with statistics or medical jargon. It’s about creating a moment of recognition. That pause where someone thinks, “Actually, I’ve been putting this off for a while.”
If this campaign helps even one person pick up the phone to their GP, it will have been worth every moment.
Follow the Campaign
You can follow the progress of the SILENCE campaign and see it unfold in real time on our OCHRE’s Facebook page.
If you or someone you know is experiencing persistent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, or other symptoms that won’t go away – please don’t stay silent. Speak to your GP.
