NHS to Warn Men of Cancer via Urinal Mats
In a pioneering effort to enhance cancer awareness and facilitate earlier diagnoses, the NHS has partnered with urinal products brand P-Wave to convey critical messages on urinal mats in public places across England.
Men’s toilets in pubs, restaurants, shops, hotels, sports stadiums, and workplaces will display the message “Blood in your pee? Contact your GP practice,” targeting a broad audience.
Passing blood in urine, even once, is a common symptom for bladder, kidney, or prostate cancers, prevalent among the top ten cancers in the country.
The collaborative initiative aims to address misconceptions about this symptom, as a recent survey revealed that nearly half of men (46%) do not consider blood in urine as a cancer symptom.
The NHS initiative aligns with a broader push to raise awareness about cancer symptoms, with data indicating a record number of people receiving lifesaving cancer checks in the last year (2.92 million). Early cancer diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes.
The survey also highlighted that 71% of men would be more likely to contact their GP practice if they saw messaging on a urinal mat regarding blood in their urine.
Health officials believe that this unique partnership will effectively disseminate cancer awareness in a location where symptoms may be noticed early.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England National Clinical Director for Cancer, emphasised the importance of addressing potential cancer symptoms promptly: “Having blood in your pee – even just once – shouldn’t be ignored because it can be a sign of cancer, so it needs to be checked out by your GP team.”
The initiative has garnered support from individuals diagnosed with cancer after noticing blood in their urine, such as Adil Malik and Michael Sloane.
Adil, diagnosed with kidney cancer at 28, and Michael, diagnosed with bladder cancer, shared their experiences, highlighting the importance of seeking medical help.
Dave Carson, Managing Director of P-Wave, expressed pride in the partnership: “We are delighted that through our P-Wave urinal mats, we can encourage people to check for blood in their pee and to contact their GP practice if they spot it and are excited to share these with our customers and play a part in helping spread this important message.”
The NHS continues to leverage technology and innovative initiatives to advance cancer diagnosis, including community lung health checks and trials of a blood test capable of detecting up to 50 cancers before symptoms manifest. The goal is to diagnose three-quarters of all cancers at stage one or two by 2028.
