Cancer Research UK nurses are in Church Square on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th September.
The roadshow, which will be stationed in Church Square, from around 10am until 4pm, has been specially designed to help visitors stack their odds against cancer by making positive health changes like ditching the cigarettes or cutting down on alcohol.
The nurses will also encourage people to go to their GP with any concerns. Picking cancer up at an earlier stage means treatment is more likely to be successful.
Helen Higham, Cancer Research UK Senior Cancer Awareness Nurse in the North West, said: “The roadshow is a chance for us to talk to people about steps they can take to help reduce their risk of cancer through changes like stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake or being more active.
“As well as leaflets, we have lots of props so visitors can handle a tar jar to see the effect smoking 10 cigarettes a day for a year or hold specially created “fat lumps” to show just how much difference losing 1lb or 5lbs makes.
“We can also carry out Smokerlyzer tests to show how much carbon monoxide is in someone’s breath – and body mass index (BMI) tests to show someone if they are in a healthy weight range.”
Over 600,000 people have visited the Cancer Research UK roadshow since it began in 2006 in partnership with Marie Keating Foundation.
Around 7,747 people visited the roadshow when it toured the North West last year and nurses measured 673 waists, took 896 Body Mass Index (BMI) tests* and carried out 250 Smokerlyzer tests.
The North West 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.
Cancer Research UK nurses will give out information about how to help spot cancer early – when it is more likely to be treated successfully – and there is an on-board consultation room to discuss any cancer concerns.
Cancer Research UK also holds a regular Your Cancer Awareness Hub to support people to make lifestyle changes which is based in the Hardshaw Centre every fortnight. Nurses will be back at the Hardshaw Centre on Thursday 11 October.
To find out more about the Cancer Awareness Roadshow or how to reduce the risk of cancer and detect it early, visit cruk.org/spotcancerearly To find out more about the Cancer Awareness Roadshow visit www.cancerawarenessroadshow.org.uk or follow the North West Roadshow team on Twitter @CRUKroadshow_NW
