Irish Cancer Society offering free health checks as part Of ‘Your Health Matters’ Roadshow

By Ella Carey

The Irish Cancer Society is offering free health checks all over Ireland as part of their ‘Your Health Matters’ roadshow.

The checks consist of a blood pressure check, body mass index (BMI) and carbon monoxide (CO) reading, an information on cancer prevention, screening, and ways to help spot early signs of cancer.

The service takes approximately 15 minutes and a GP referral can be arranged where further help is required.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and throughout the month, the roadshow will visit several different locations across the country, offering free health checks, advice, and information about early detection.

The ‘Your Health Matters’ roadshow initiative seeks to promote positive lifestyle changes, increasing awareness of cancer symptoms, and improving medical care- seeking behaviour for the early signs of cancer.

A Response to Covid – 19

Sarah Egan, a cancer awareness nurse with the Irish Cancer Society, says the idea for the roadshows was in response to the delays in all levels of healthcare since Covid-19:

“There’s still delays in the screening programmes following on from Covid-19.”

“The ‘Your Health’ roadshows was a response to that, to try meet people out where they are and provide them with the free advice, and maybe a free blood pressure check, and then encourage them to go get checked out if they do have a worry or concern within their body.”

The Irish Cancer Society recommends preforming self checks monthly, and Sarah says its important to know what feels normal to you:

“We recommend the regular checks once a month to know what is normal for you, and to act on that. If you notice something that is abnormal go get checked out.”

The charity has also collaborated with Penneys for Breast Cancer Awareness month with a pink range for the first two weeks of October.

The Irish Cancer Society have collaborated with Penneys with a pink range for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

2023 is the first year the charity is coming out in stores, and today they had an information desk in Penneys, Eyre Square centre, and will have the information desks at various other locations throughout the next fortnight.