Mobile health van to tour Tameside

A VAN will be touring Tameside to help raise awareness about an important subject. 

People will be able to get on board to learn more about bowel cancer screening and how to spot signs of bowel cancer.

The council hopes it will help residents recognise potential bowel cancer symptoms when it’s more treatable at an earlier stage.

The van will be at the following locations:

Morrisons in Dukinfield – on Thursday, February 6, and Friday, February 14, from 10am to 6pm

Tesco in Droylsden – on Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 15, from 10am to 6pm

Hyde Market – on Saturday, February 8, and Thursday, February 13, from 10am to 6pm

On board the van, specially trained ambassadors will teach people about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, and when to seek help.

They will also be able to talk people through how to complete the easy, at-home screening test – also known as a FIT test.

Recent data shows that 49 people in Tameside die each year from bowel cancer, while 410 people are diagnosed annually.

Councillor Taf Sharif, Executive Member for Population Health and Wellbeing, said: “Early diagnosis saves lives, and This Van Can is a brilliant way to break down barriers, get people talking about their health, and spread awareness of the importance of bowel screening.

“By bringing this initiative to Tameside and every other borough in Greater Manchester, we’re taking important steps towards reducing the devastating impact of bowel cancer in our communities.”

The van is part of a number of ‘This Van Can’ projects being run by the NHS Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance.