The Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre staff were out in force today to hold a Wellbeing and prevent cancer day as part of an ongoing campaign to promote some of the easy things you can do in your everyday life to lower your risk of cancer.
Staff were on hand to check blood pressure, offer healthy snacks including raisins and apples. They were also suggesting (and in some cases demonstrating!) some exercises like trampolining and cycling to something simple like lifting common tins of food and walking more.
The day was part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the fact that 2 in 5 cancers are preventable. Information was provided on some of the ways that you could reduce your risk of cancer including keeping a healthy weight, stopping smoking, eat more fruit and vegetables and trying to keep active by doing at least two and a half hours of exercise a week.
Staff were also stating the importance of regular screening for bowel, breast and cervical cancer. They were particularly keen to promote the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, available for men and women aged 50 – 74 it sends out a kit for a bowel screening test that can be completed at home and returned by post, with results sent out within 2 weeks. Kits are not sent out automatically but can be requested on the Bowel Screening Centre Helpline on 0800 0121 833.
You can find out more information on how to reduce your risk of cancer on the NHS website.
