Cancer awareness roadshow heading for Nelson

The special roadshow bus, organised by Cancer Research UK, will be parked up in Place De Criel, Nelson, on Thursday between 10am and 4pm and staffed by nurses and volunteers who will provide information on how to reduce the risk of cancer.

With more than four people diagnosed with cancer every hour in the North West, the team help raise awareness of the importance of spotting the signs and symptoms of cancer early, as well as providing support to help people make positive changes to their lifestyle.

Experts estimate more than four in 10 cancer cases could be prevented by lifestyle changes.

Since launching in 2006, with pop-star Rowan Keating’s Marie Keating Foundation, the Roadshow has seen over 400,000 visitors in over 200 cities and towns across the UK.

Visitors can talk to a nurse, take a BMI test to find out whether their weight is within a healthy range, and pick up useful health information to take away. They can also have a smokerlyzer test.

Jessica Turner, Senior Cancer Awareness Nurse at Cancer Research UK who will be at the roadshow in Nelson, said: “We hope to talk to members of the public in the area – men and women, young and old - about how cancer can be prevented and spotted early.

“We offer visitors the opportunity to have a private conversation with our nurses and also invite local health workers onto the unit to inform people of health services in their area.”

Staff will also be talking to people about:

* Knowing your body – by getting to know your body and what’s normal for you it will be easier to spot unusual or persistent changes. A change won’t usually turn out to be cancer, but if it is something serious then finding it early could make all the difference.

* Living a healthy life – being smoke free, drinking less alcohol, eating healthily, watching your weight, being active and being SunSmart can all help to lower the risk of cancer.