A SPECIAL mobile cancer support information van is coming to Runcorn to raise awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening.

The iVan will be outside Runcorn Asda on Thursday, February 6, and it could save your life.

Eileen O’Meara, director of public health at Halton Council, said: “iVan gives people information and support about cancer. We tell them about the symptoms to look out for, and would always recommend that they get checked out by a doctor if in doubt.

“We also tell people about the cancer screening programmes and encourage them to attend their appointments.

“It could save their lives.

“So many cancers are preventable or, if spotted early enough, treatable.”

In Halton, all women aged between 47 and 73 are being screened.

Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage by x-raying each breast. This is known as a mammogram.

Women are urged to examine themselves regularly.

If they find a lump, a change in size or discharge, they should visit their GP.

Eileen added: “Regular self-checks are very important in detecting any changes. It is important to know what is normal for a person’s body and to look out for any notable changes.”

Breast cancer is an extremely common cancer. One person is diagnosed every 11 minutes, that’s 46,000 each year.

Eight out of 10 of those diagnosed are women aged over 50, although younger women can also get breast cancer.