Men traditionally think that if they ignore symptoms they will just go away. They don’t if they are the early signs of cancer!

Blue September, launched last year, is back for 2012 and aims to get men to face up to their problems by painting the UK blue.

Bury Football Club and NHS Bury Community Action to Promote Early Detection of cancer (CAPED) are first time “bluers” this year and with support from Bury Council are working closely to increase awareness of cancer among men in Bury.

This awareness is much needed as men are about 40% more likely to die of cancers than women. Through this display of support men will hopefully begin to take preventative measures and seek medical advice at the first sign of change in their bodies.

• Every year 154,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with cancer – and 81,000 die.

• In Bury, 251 men died from cancer in 2010.

• Around 450 men were diagnosed with cancer.

• Men are particularly more likely to develop and die from cancer, such as lung, bowel or bladder cancer

• If detected early, 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with bowel cancer will survive.

• Urological cancers affect twice as many men as women

Dr Peter Elton, Director of Public Health NHS Bury, said: “One in three of us will develop cancer. It is vital that men know the early signs and symptoms and then go to their doctor straight away.”

Brian Fenton, chairman of Bury Football Club, said: “Male cancers affect thousands of people across the UK every single day and I’m proud that Bury Football Club can support Blue September and help save men’s lives. I would encourage Bury FC fans and the people of Bury to get involved with this nationwide campaign to increase awareness of all men’s cancers.”

Last week, the Bury CAPED team with a colleague from the NHS Bowel screening team visited Gigg Lane and gave players, staff, club chairman, the leader and the chief executive of Bury council and ASDA Community Life Champions, a tour of an inflatable bowel so that they could learn more about bowel cancer and show their support for Blue September.

Councillor Mike Connolly, leader of Bury Council, said: “Too many men ignore health problems and never go to their doctor. I hope the campaign will help to change attitudes and ultimately save lives.” 

On Saturday 8 September, NHS Bury CAPED will be at Gigg Lane again for the Bury vs Preston game to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of cancer, promote the importance of early diagnosis and offer free information to fans before and after the game. This is one of several events that are taking place across Bury during September as a way to urge men to ‘face up to cancer’. The team will also be on Bury Market on 7 and 28 September, with further dates to come.

This year sees The Urology Foundation coming on board as the beneficiary for Blue September UK. Money raised will go towards funding research into urological disorders including prostate cancer, kidney cancer and bladder cancer.

Please visit www.blueseptember.org/uk to see more of what the UK is doing to get behind Blue September. You too can support the cause through events and donations on the website.