Gyms to display NHS cancer message stickers in push for early diagnosis

Gym-goers will soon see special stickers on mirrors at their leisure centres reminding them to look out for potential signs of cancer.

The new campaign is being run in partnership with the NHS and Better leisure centres in Lewisham, Croydon, Greenwich, Wimbledon, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

It is part of an NHS initiative around body awareness to get more people diagnosed early.

The stickers will feature the message ‘Check you out’ and ‘Know what’s normal for you’ before reminding people to contact their GP practice if something in their body doesn’t feel right.

An unusual lump, skin change, unexplained weight loss or bleeding, for example, is something to talk about with a doctor. 

While not all changes will be cancer, it is important to check.

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 and get it checked out immediately.”

The campaign comes following a survey by Better, which found that only 44 per cent of respondents in London check their bodies for physical changes at least once a month, and 10 per cent don’t check at all.

Pictured top: Gym-goers will soon see special stickers on mirrors at their leisure centres (Picture: GLL/Better Leisure)