NHS has formed an unlikely partnership to promote cancer checks
Warning labels for breast and testicular cancer have been sewn into under sold in Morrisons.
The NHS have teamed up with the leading supermarket chain to install health warnings into men’s and women’s underwear which detail the signs to look out for when checking for breast or testicular cancer.
As well as embedding labels into underwear, scannable QR codes will also be on the packing that will direct people to the NHS website where they can read more detailed information on the two different types of cancers.
The new cancer awareness labels on Morrisons underwear, otherwise known by the clothing brand name ‘Nutmeg’, is set to be available in 240 shops across England.
Dame Cally Palmer, director for cancer at the NHS, said: ‘This is the first time the whole of the NHS has worked with a national supermarket brand to put health messaging on clothing, with the aim of encouraging thousands more people to be body aware, so they can spot new or unexplained changes that might be cancer symptoms early, and contact their GP practice for checks if concerned.
‘Cancer survival is at an all-time high – survival for both breast and testicular cancers have improved significantly over the last 50 years and we’re seeing more people than ever before diagnosed at an early stage – and this partnership with Morrisons is just one of the many ways we are ensuring people are aware of potential cancer symptoms.
‘I want to urge everyone to be aware of their own bodies – please look out for lumps and bumps or anything else that is unusual for you – and get checked out early, it could save your life.’
According to advice that has been issued by the NHS, ‘The first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it’s always best to have them checked by your doctor.’
Image: Angiola Harry
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