Action Cancerincreases Big Bus health checks

Some 10,000 people have already used the charity’s health check services on-board the state-of-the-art Big Bus mobile unit, but now a wider choice and greater number of tests will be available.

Not only has the number of appointments offered each day increased from 12 to 20, meaning that Action Cancer can see more clients, but Big Bus service users can now choose four out of six checks, including cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose levels, lung capacity, facial skin scanning and full body composition analysis. A full body composition check provides information on weight, Body Mass Index, percentage fat and visceral fat (the fat around internal organs), in an effort to fight obesity, one of the increasing causes of cancer.

Previously there were only four checks available and clients could avail of three at a time.

Launched in 2006 and funded to the tune of more than £1million by retailer SuperValu, the Big Bus travels throughout Northern Ireland bringing cancer prevention and early detection services into local communities.

Rachel Long from the Action Cancer Health Promotion team said: “Health checks provide information which people can use to make adjustments to their lifestyles, hopefully reducing their risk of cancer. Factors such as being overweight and a lack of sun safety can significantly increase the chances of getting cancer. Unfortunately the incidences of obesity and skin cancer are on the increase, so this change to the package of checks has been announced to keep up with those developments. We have tailored our health promotion services to give more appointments, choice and an even better range of checks, so that a greater number of clients can get on the road to a healthier lifestyle.”

For more information about Action Cancer’s Big Bus services telephone 9080 3344 or log on to www.actioncancer.org