Mirrors in the changing rooms of leisure centres across Bath and North East Somerset are being used to share messages from the NHS about looking out for the signs of cancer.
Staff with the new stickers | Photo © Better / GLL
Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that runs five local centres on behalf of B&NES Council.
The mirror stickers will feature the message ‘Check you out’ and ‘Know what’s normal for you’ – reminding people that if something in their body doesn’t feel right, they should contact their GP practice.
The scheme is the latest push by the NHS to find cancers at an earlier stage, with Better being the first leisure provider in the UK to focus on cancer awareness.
The new initiative comes as a survey by Better found that only 57% of respondents in the South West check their bodies for physical changes regularly (at least once a month), and 10% don’t check at all.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: “Finding cancer early is key to successful treatment and survival, but this means that we need people who experience symptoms to come forward as soon as they spot them.
“This is why it’s vital that people are aware of their bodies, take notice of a change that isn’t normal for them and get it checked out immediately.
“This partnership with Better means that we’re able to reach more people to remind them to check themselves at a time and a place where they are able to do so. It’s a simple thing that anyone can do, but it really can save your life.”
Barnaby Rich, GLL Partnership Manager for the B&NES area, said: “Our aim is to improve health and wellbeing in our local community, and we’re delighted to be partnering NHS England in this vital campaign.
“The survey we conducted clearly indicates a need to raise awareness of potential signs of cancer and the mirror stickers will hopefully act as a timely reminder to our customers to check themselves regularly.”
Lending her support to the scheme, Demi Jones, ex-Love Island reality TV star, said: “I was just 22 years old when I received my thyroid cancer diagnosis after I found a lump on my neck.
“I contacted my GP practice straight away to get it checked out and I was quickly referred for further testing that led to treatment by the incredible NHS team in Portsmouth.
“I’m now living life cancer-free and would urge anyone who notices an unusual change not to delay and speak to their GP as they are there to help. It really could save their life, as it did mine.”
The survey by Better also found that 15% of respondents from the South West said they are not aware of any potential cancer signs.
65% said they would recognise a lump or swelling in a part of their body as a possible early sign of cancer and would seek medical advice.
