Celebrities team with the NHS to encourage cancer checks

A number of well-known faces have taken part in a new film for an NHS campaign, outlining their own experiences of cancer and encouraging people to not delay getting checked out.

Former boxer Johnny Nelson, Love Islander Demi Jones, celebrity builder Tommy Walsh, Killing Eve actress Dame Harriet Walter and Loose Women panellist Charlene White are all backing the campaign, which is aimed at detecting cancer earlier when it is easier to treat.

Already running across TV, radio and social media, the campaign is taking a radically different approach to catching cancer earlier by tackling the fear of cancer rather than specific symptoms. The key message is that if you think something is wrong it is always better to get checked out to put your mind at rest, or to get treatment that maximises your chances of a good outcome.

Research alongside the launch of the campaign found that more than two in five people would either look for answers online, speak to family and friends, completely ignore it or wait to see if anything changed, before going to their GP.

The same research indicates that 56 per cent of people say a cancer diagnosis is their biggest health fear, above other illnesses including heart disease and catching Covid-19.

Cally Palmer, NHS national cancer director, said: “It is heartening to see so many celebrities speak out about their own experiences and encourage others to come forward and get themselves checked. The fear of cancer is totally understandable and I know many people sometimes put off getting checked because they are worried about getting bad news – but we cannot emphasise enough how important is you come forward as early as you can. We would rather see you sooner with a cancer we can treat than later down the line when treatment may be more difficult.”