Health professionals, organisations and individuals have been hard at work fundraising this month to promote Breast Cancer awareness.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in England as around 41,200 women are diagnosed each year.
Liverpool Community Health officials have been promoting the importance of awareness and screening for breast cancer.
Tina Davies-Taylor, Service Lead for Public Health at Liverpool Community Health, told JMU Journalism: “If we raise awareness of signs and symptoms, and encourage people to attend screening, they are more likely to have any cancer detected at an earlier stage. Therefore early detection can save lives.”
Olufemi Olajide, Project Support Manager from LCH, said: “The team was at various local community events throughout October promoting breast cancer awareness to patients at GP practices during the seasonal flu clinics.
“We had the cancer information van (i-Van) talking to members of the public in ASDA, Hunt Cross and LIDL in Kensington as these are two areas with high mortality and morbidity of breast cancer.
“We also linked with the black, minority and ethnic communities and promoted breast cancer at some of their planned activities using translated materials in Arabic, Chinese and Polish.”
Outlets throughout Liverpool have been getting involved, including M&S, which has partnered with Breakthrough Cancer and has raised £20m since 2001. This month, there have been tins distributed at the end of each check-out for customers to donate money.
For the second year running, several shades of pink have descended onto the walls of Liverpool One’s Boux Avenue, as they champion and support breast cancer.
Olufemi added: “Looking after yourself by eating healthy, staying fit, reducing your alcohol intake and stopping smoking can all help to reduce your chances of getting breast cancer.
“If you are concerned about any changes to your breasts, speak to your GP or seek medical advice.”