A new campaign has launched to tackle the disproportionately high rates of head and neck cancer among men in Kirkby.
Central to the campaign is a cartoon character named Hanc, who encourages men to perform a monthly self-check routine under the catchy slogan: “Give a T.O.S.” which stands for three simple steps designed to catch symptoms before they become life-threatening:
- Touch – Check for lumps on the neck, lips, or in your mouth
- Open Wide – Look for ulcers or red/red‑and‑white patches in your mouth or on your tongue
- Speak – Listen for hoarseness in your voice.
People with these symptoms for three weeks or more are being urged to seek advice from their GP surgery.
The campaign is targeting those most at risk from head and neck cancer – men aged 40 and over who smoke and/or drink heavily. Initially, the campaign is focused on Kirkby (and Birkenhead) which have some of the highest levels of head and neck cancer in the region.
Whilst the campaign is focused primarily on men – as more than two in three people who get head and neck cancer are male – it is important that everyone stays vigilant to these symptoms and finds time to check themselves regularly.
There’s a simple online self‑check tool, which you can access here: https://shorturl.at/WkGeI
The campaign is being run by Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) with support from Caja Ltd., a transformation consultancy specialising in health and social care.
Cllr Christine Bannon, Knowsley Council Cabinet Member for Health, said:
“This monthly self-check is easy to do, but its impact is huge. Early diagnosis is key as the more treatable cancer it’s likely to be.
“Our Kirkby GP surgeries will be reaching out to those at highest risk via text and mail—if you get a message, please take it seriously—it’s about keeping you healthy for you and your family.”
Jon Hayes, Managing Director of Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, said:
“Millions of men across the UK already carry out regular checks for signs of cancer. By helping more people in Kirkby do the same for head and neck cancer, the campaign aims to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for those most at risk.
“The core ambition of the campaign is to encourage those at highest risk of these cancers to check themselves monthly for potential signs. The more aware we can be of changes to our body, the earlier we can seek advice and the better chance we have of getting effective treatment.”
Jon added:
“We want men to give a T.O.S. about their health and not ignore it if something is wrong.”