From Wythenshawe to Cheetham Hill, the BooBee bus tour has hit the road today to raise awareness of the importance of attending breast screenings, across areas in the region with the lowest uptake.
Manchester has consistently fallen below the national average for screening uptake, with only 53.2% of Mancunians getting their breasts checked in 2021, compared to the national average of 64.2%*. With the help of the BooBee campaign, Prevent Breast Cancer aims to increase these rates, and help make Manchester the most breast aware city in the UK.
More than 55,900 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and with one in 10 instances of cancer being diagnosed late**, there has never been a more important time to take action.
The week-long bus tour, part of the wider BooBee campaign, will see the bright pink BooBee bus visit the areas of Greater Manchester that have the lowest uptake of screening, educating on what happens at breast screening, who should attend and promoting the importance of breast screening and self examination, not just for those who screening is available to, but for all women of all ages.
As part of the roadtrip, 100 charity ambassadors – women who have been personally affected by breast cancer – will travel with the bus to share their experiences and spread awareness of this devastating disease that has taken so many lives.
The BooBees will be accompanied by the team at Answer Cancer, Greater Manchester’s screening engagement programme, who will be on hand to answer any questions around breast screening.
The tour also aims to raise awareness among those living in deprived areas.
Every year, 420 women in Greater Manchester die from breast cancer, and research has found that there is a strong link between deprivation and increased incidence of cancer. In Manchester, 60% of these breast cancer patients are from the most deprived groups***.
The tour started in Eastlands today, and will travel around Greater Manchester, with a final stop in Manchester fort Cheetham Hill on the 13th November.
Breast cancer screenings help to save roughly 1,300 lives a year**** by using X-rays to check breasts for signs of cancer. Early detection is lifesaving and helps to increase the chance that treatment will be successful.
Alongside screening, which is available every three years to all women in the UK between the ages of 50 and 70, we encourage all women to regularly check their breasts to understand what’s normal for them and seek out advice if they notice anything unusual. It can be done by examining monthly in the shower, lying down on the bed, whilst getting dressed or even blow drying hair.
Lester Barr, founder of Prevent Breast Cancer, said: “We are dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of attending breast screenings across Greater Manchester. There are a multitude of reasons that women don’t attend their screening invitation, and we’re committed to addressing the issue by learning more and communicating effectively with women of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds.
“We aim to proactively share information with different cultural and ethnic groups within different communities, whilst encouraging everyone to attend their screening invite and not only just check their breasts, but be aware of all the signs and symptoms, so that we are empowering each woman to know what’s normal for them, and cancer can be diagnosed as early as possible.
“As the only UK charity dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer, Prevent Breast Cancer is passionate about creating a future free from breast cancer.”
Manchester Airport operator MAG is the headline sponsor of the BooBee campaign, supporting the fit out of the BooBee bus for its journey around the city, and promoting the project to the many thousands of people working at and travelling through the airport.
Tina Edwards, People Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We are proud to be supporting this crucial campaign, highlighting an issue that we know is close to the hearts of many of our colleagues and customers. Breast screening is vitally important and we want to encourage people across the region to get themselves checked”.
For more information about the campaign and where the bus is visiting, please check out preventbreastcancer.org.uk.
