Manchester Airport and BooBee encourage breast cancer checks while on holiday

For most women, holidays provide the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, relax, and really connect with their bodies.

Whether it’s applying suntan lotion, lounging on a sunbed in a new position, or simply taking the time to do a self-examination, being on holiday can bring attention to potential health issues.

This summer, the BooBee Campaign in Greater Manchester has partnered with Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the UK’s largest airport group, to promote breast health awareness for women heading off on holiday.

The Check In & Check Yourself initiative, led by BooBee co-founder Margo Cornish MBE, aims to remind women about the importance of regular self-checks, especially during the holiday season when they have more time to focus on themselves.

The campaign features the stories of four women who discovered breast changes that were later found to be cancer while on holiday. Posters will be in place in the female toilets across Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports over the summer holiday period, along with pop-up banners and digital displays in selected terminals.

The posters remind women to check their breasts and see a doctor if they notice anything unusual.

Margo said: “Recent statistics tell us that breast cancer affects around one in seven women at some point in their lives, making early detection crucial. By encouraging women to be proactive about their breast health, we can improve prognosis and potentially save lives.”

Among the four women to feature in the campaign is 61-year-old Kath Pryer from Prestbury in Cheshire. Kath was soaking up some winter sunshine in the Caribbean in January 2023 when she noticed some soreness and discomfort in her right breast while lying on her front.

She explained: “I don’t lie on my front very often, so initially, I didn’t think anything of it, but a few days later I could feel it again. After the third time, I started to get more concerned, to the point where I was lying awake in bed one night – on my back this time – and that’s when I felt a lump.

“When I arrived back in the UK, I went for a scan and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Straight away, I started a course of IV chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy and five sessions of radiotherapy. Later that same year, I got the all-clear.”

Kath is clear that it was her change of environment in being on holiday that led to her realizing something was wrong. She added: “I don’t think I would have found it otherwise. It’s often said that breast cancer is painless, but that was not my experience, and it was the discomfort while lying on my front that led me to discover it.

“What I’d say to women traveling on their holidays this summer is – check thoroughly, check regularly, and if you do find something you’re not happy with, don’t put it off, see somebody.”

Also taking part is 43-year-old Laura Upton, from Bolton. Much like Kath, Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing a lump while she was on holiday in 2017.

She said: “I went to the doctor as soon as I arrived home, was sent for tests, and my diagnosis followed around two weeks later. Breast cancer runs in my family but nevertheless, it was a bit of a shock. I had chemotherapy and surgery later that year and I’ve been in remission since.

“I would strongly encourage women traveling on their holidays this summer to Check In & Check Yourself. Catching it early is so important and could save your life.”

The BooBee Campaign raises much-needed funds for the Manchester-headquartered charity, Prevent Breast Cancer.

Nikki Barraclough, Chief Executive of Prevent Breast Cancer, said: “At Prevent Breast Cancer, we’re dedicated to creating a future free from breast cancer through early detection, education, and research. Campaigns like ‘Check In & Check Yourself’ are so important – they help women pause, reflect, and take simple steps that could ultimately save their lives. Holidays offer a rare moment to slow down and reconnect with ourselves, and we want to use that moment to empower women to be breast aware – because early diagnosis and prevention start with knowledge.”

Nicola Foster, a Reward and Wellbeing Manager for MAG who has led on coordinating the campaign across its airports, said: “We have been pleased to support the important work of the BooBee Campaign over many years now, and this is a fantastic continuation of that.

“We know when people travel on holiday, their minds shift to things they might overlook during daily life. That is why we are pleased to find creative ways to remind women of the importance of being breast aware when they travel through our airports.”

For more about the campaign, visit http://www.boobee.co.uk/checkinandcheckyoursel