CANCER RESEARCH UK nurses will be visiting town centres across the North West over the next nine months with their Cancer Awareness Roadshow – supported by Ronan Keating and his family.
The roadshow, which will stop off in town centres in Manchester, Merseyside, Salford and Lancashire, aims to help the public recognise possible signs and symptoms of cancer, and to help people reduce their risk by leading a healthy lifestyle.
Cancer Research UK nurses can provide information about how to help spot cancer earlier – when it is more likely to be treated successfully – and encourage people to go to their GP with any health concerns. They have also produced a video to talk about the roadshow which you can view here.
The nurses will also talk to visitors about ways they can help to stack their odds against cancer by making positive health changes like ditching the cigarettes or cutting down on alcohol.
The roadshow is sponsored by the Marie Keating Foundation, which was set up by Ronan Keating and his family in memory of their mum Marie who died from breast cancer.
Ronan Keating said: “It’s really important that people know to go to their GP if they notice any changes to their bodies that are unusual or persistent. And that there’s lots we can all do to help reduce the risk of cancer.
“The roadshow helps to get these messages out to people as they go about their daily lives in town centres, shopping malls and community centres. My family and I are very proud to support the Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Roadshow and we think our mum would be pleased with the work we are doing.”
Visitors to the roadshow can also learn about healthy eating and take home a portion plate which shows the recommended amounts of salad or vegetables, protein and carbohydrates to try to eat each meal time.
They can also look at props including a tar jar which shows the build-up of tar from smoking 10 cigarettes a day for a year or handle fat lump props which show what 1lb or 5lbs looks like and can be an incentive to lose a few pounds.
Jessica Turner, Cancer Research UK Senior Cancer Awareness Nurse in the North West, said: “Experts estimate around 4 in 10 cases of cancer could be prevented each year in the UK.
“We are looking forward to talking to lots of people from Oldham about the steps they can take to help reduce their risk of cancer through changes like stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and keeping a healthy weight.”
One topic nurses are keen to draw attention to is bowel cancer as April is bowel cancer awareness month.
Jessica said: “We can talk visitors through the bowel cancer home screening test and have a replica kit on the roadshow.
“People aged 60-74 years who are registered with a GP will receive an NHS bowel cancer screening kit through the post, every two years.
“Bowel cancer screening is a simple test that can be done in the privacy of your own home. It is designed to detect early signs of bowel cancer, in people without any symptoms.”
In addition to the roving roadshow, there will also be two regular roadshows happening most fortnights in Tameside at Ashton Market Hall and at Bolton Market.
Visitors can turn up on the day without an appointment or schedule a repeat visit to get ongoing support or to talk about cancer and pick up information.
Last year over 60,000 people visited one of Cancer Research UK’s four Cancer Awareness Roadshows, which tour the UK. Nurses measured over 3,200 waists and completed almost 4,000 body mass index (BMI) tests which show if someone is a healthy weight range. They also carried out 504 Smokerlyzer tests, which show how much carbon monoxide is in someone’s breath.
The roadshow is part of Cancer Research UK’s continued programme to make health information as accessible as possible to the public and was launched in 2006 supported by the Marie Keating Foundation.
To find out more about the Cancer Awareness Roadshow and where it will be heading visit: cruk.org/roadshow or follow the North West Roadshow team on Twitter @CRUKroadshow_NW
During 2019 the Cancer Awareness Roadshow will be at Bolton Market on Thursdays on March 28, April 11, April 25, May 9, May 23, June 6, June 20, July 4, July 15, August 15, August 29, September 12, September 26, October 11, October 24, November 7 and November 21.
The Tameside dates for 2019 will be Thursdays April 4, April 18, May 2, June 13, July 25, August 8, August 22, September 5, September 19, October 17, October 31, November 14 and November 28 all at Ashton Market, in Ashton Market Hall, on Market Street.
It will also be in Oldham Library April 2 and 3, Sainsburys Burnley April 9 and 10, Walden town centre, Salford, April 16 and 17, Victoria Square, Bolton April 23 and 24, Williamson Square, Liverpool, April 30 and May 1 with trips to Halton, Bury and Bradford planned later in the year.
To find out more about how to reduce the risk of cancer and detect it early, visit cruk.org
