A south Belfast man is encouraging other men to take advantage of free health checks as part of a new health campaign.
To coincide with Men’s Health Week, which runs from 12-18 June, Action Cancer is launching its Action Man campaign to encourage men aged 16 and over to book a medical with the charity.
This campaign aims to get men talking about their physical health and wellbeing and take advantage of a free health check to get a snapshot of their health.
The 20-minute MOT checks are available at Action Cancer House in Belfast and also on board the charity’s Big Bus, sponsored by SuperValu and Centra, which travels to 200 locations in Northern Ireland each year.
The health check includes a range of assessments, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose and body composition analysis, as well as lifestyle advice and information about common cancers in men.
Screenings do not diagnose cancer, but are intended to raise awareness of current health and the importance of cancer prevention and early detection.
Chris Kelly, 25, from South Belfast, recently took advantage of a free medical check-up at Action Cancer House and is now urging other men to do the same.
Chris said: “I booked an appointment online, it was a really easy process. Hannah was incredibly knowledgeable and explained every step of the health check to me.
“I would consider myself quite fit and healthy as I play football for Aquinas every week and am an active member of Belvoir Golf Club.
“I was very happy with my results and would recommend other guys to get an annual MOT medical. For me it was comforting, but for others it could be life-changing.”
Hannah Glasgow, Health Promotion Officer at Action Cancer, added: “In Northern Ireland, 13 men are diagnosed with cancer every day. Men are more likely to think about their symptoms before contacting their GP.
“They are diagnosed at a later stage than women and are subsequently more likely to die from cancer than women.
“Following the Covid-19 pandemic, we are now referring 56% of customers to their GP for further assessment. Before the pandemic, this figure was 45%.
“We encourage men to be proactive about their health, learn about the signs and symptoms of cancer and book a health check with us to get an idea of their overall health.
“This week we aim to spread our men’s health message far and wide.”
To book an appointment, visit www.actioncancer.org/appointments or call 028 9080 3344. You can also bring health checks to your workplace by booking a clinic to be delivered to your premises. To learn more email appointments@actioncancer.org.
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