Nearly one million Londoners never check their body for physical changes to look for potential signs of cancer, new NHS research revealed.
The survey, with partnership GLL, found 10% of Londoners are not aware of their body for physical changes for potential risk of cancer as well while 56% regularly check their body.
Meanwhile, nearly half of Londoners will go to GP if they see lumps or swelling on their body, but 32% are not aware of any cancer symptoms at all.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England said: “Finding cancer early is key to successful treatment and survival added they 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”.
The research was conducted among a sample of 2,000 UK adults in August 2024.
GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise which runs gyms, sport and leisure facilities, and has launched a ‘Check you out’ campaign with NHS partnerships.
NHS messages prompting gym-goers and swimmers to look out for potential signs of cancer will be appearing on mirrors in the changing rooms of all 113 Better facilities across London.
Know what’s normal for you
The eye-catching stickers feature the message ‘Check you out’ and ‘Know what’s normal for you’, and remind people that if something in their body doesn’t feel right, they should contact their GP.
Johnson said the partnership with Better means the NHS is able to reach more people to remind them to check themselves at a time and a place where they are able to do so.
He added: “It’s a simple thing that anyone can do, but it really can save your life.”
Paul Lister, GLL head of service for London said their survey conducted by NHS and Better clearly indicates a need to raise awareness of potential signs of cancer and the mirror stickers would hopefully act as a timely reminder to their London customers to check themselves regularly.
According to the NHS, over 50,000 patients started cancer treatment in June 2024 in England and over a quarter of a million people were referred for urgent cancer checks.
The health service said it met the 28-day faster diagnosis standard for the second month in a row in June with more than three quarters of patients (76.3%) – almost 200,000 people – receiving the all clear or a definitive diagnosis within four weeks.
According to NHS Digital Data, cancer diagnoses returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
There were 329,665 new cancer diagnoses in 2021, on average 903 a day, which is 2,491 more than 2019 and 40,912 more than 2020.
