Bucks' goal is tackling men's cancers

EVO-STIK League Buxton are backing a national campaign to show men’s cancers the red card by promoting healthy lifestyles and the importance of regular check-ups.

Bucks manager Martin McIntosh and his first team squad broke off from training before their clash with Grantham Town to don home shirts and hold scarves aloft in support of Blue September, the campaign founded by the Urology Foundation to reduce the number of men dying needlessly in the UK from cancer.

McIntosh, pictured sitting alongside Doctor Debbie Austin and players Stuart Ludlam, Jamie Green and Steve Istead in the stands at the Premier Division club’s Silverland ground, is delighted the Bucks are getting behind such a critical campaign which is also being backed by Premier League clubs and stars like Liverpool's Steven Gerrard this season.

He said: "It’s not well known that men are actually at higher risk of developing a wide range of cancers than women. That’s why I didn’t have to think twice when NHS North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) asked us to back Blue September locally. As a club that plays in blue and understands the importance of living a healthy life, this campaign is right up our street.

"Blue September spells out that men can significantly reduce their risk of developing prostate, lung, skin, bowel and testicular cancer by heeding some sound advice on healthy lifestyles and by looking out for the tell-tale signs of various cancers – many of which can be cured if caught early enough."

The Bucks manager added: "As an ambitious club in the EVO-STIK League, we understand the importance of keeping in great shape, and that means being vigilant about the signs of potentially serious health problems.

"But you don’t need to be a dedicated sportsperson to take good care of your health. That’s why I’m urging fans to follow the CCG’s tips for a healthy lifestyle and to visit their GP if they spot a symptom that concerns them."

The club’s efforts were welcomed by Dr Austin, a local GP and member of the CCG’s governing body which represents 36 GP practices, acting on behalf of over 288,000 patients in North Derbyshire.

Dr Austin said: "By detecting cancer in its early stages you greatly increase your chances of beating the disease. Cancer is no longer an automatic death sentence as there is now a wide range of treatments. But the sooner they start the more successful they are likely to be.

"If you are aged between 60 and 70, you will automatically be invited to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme every two years – please consider doing so very carefully. If you are not sure, talk to your GP or partner, family or friends about it.

She added: "The screen can detect bowel cancer before obvious symptoms begin to appear and can be a real life-saver. If you are over 70, you can request a screening kit by calling a freephone helpline on 0800 707 6060."

For more information on tackling men's cancers and the Blues September campaign visit: www.blueseptember.org.uk.