Manchester Airport is amplifying a breast cancer awareness campaign through digital screens and a mobile information bus, urging travelers to prioritize self-checks. The initiative, led by Prevent Breast Cancer and BooBee, highlights personal stories like Kath Pryer’s, who discovered a lump during a 2023 Caribbean trip, and honors Suzanne Cavanagh, a 41-year-old advocate for secondary breast cancer awareness who died in 2022.
The Manchester Airport Campaign and Its Message
Manchester Airport (MAN) has launched the Check In & Check Yourself
campaign, using its digital advertising network to encourage passengers to regularly check for breast cancer signs during travel. Running from July 20 to September 7, the initiative targets millions of travelers during peak season, emphasizing the importance of self-exams. According to the campaign, nearly 60,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the UK, with 45% of women not checking their breasts regularly.
Margo Cornish, Patron of the BooBee Campaign and Prevent Breast Cancer, highlighted the relaxed environment of travel as an opportunity for women to notice physical changes. Going on holiday can actually be a great opportunity for women to take care of their bodies and potentially catch any signs of breast cancer early,
she said. The airport’s digital screens serve as a timely reminder for travelers preparing for summer breaks.
As part of the campaign, a BooBee information bus will be stationed outside Terminal 2 on July 22, offering passengers guidance on symptoms, self-checks, and when to seek medical advice. Nikki Barraclough, Chief Executive of Prevent Breast Cancer, stressed the importance of early diagnosis: Checking your breasts each month might just save your life.
Personal Stories Behind the Campaign
The campaign also honors Suzanne Cavanagh, a 41-year-old Liverpool resident who died from secondary breast cancer in 2022. Diagnosed in 2019 after persistent back pain, Suzanne became a voice for the Fighting to Be Heard
campaign, which aims to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer—a form of the disease that has spread to other parts of the body. I chose to join the campaign to raise awareness as not enough is being done for secondaries,
she said, adding that it connected her with women across the UK facing similar challenges.
Suzanne’s legacy includes a billboard in Liverpool city center, part of the Fighting to Be Heard
initiative led by the charity Make 2nds Count. Founded by Lisa Fleming, who lived with both primary and secondary breast cancer, the campaign seeks to change the narrative around secondary breast cancer, which is often overlooked. We desperately need people to be aware of this forgotten form of breast cancer,
Fleming said.
The Broader Impact and Future Steps
Secondary breast cancer, which cannot be cured and affects around 35,000 people in the UK, remains under-recognized. A YouGov poll commissioned by Make 2nds Count found that 38% of people were unaware of the condition, while 21% didn’t know its symptoms. The Liverpool billboard, featuring Suzanne and 19 other patients, aims to spotlight the struggles of those living with advanced breast cancer.
Leanne Campbell, a Liverpool radio host and friend of Suzanne, praised the campaign’s impact: This billboard in Liverpool is a giant step forward for this campaign and meant so much to Suzanne.
Meanwhile, the BooBee bus at Manchester Airport offers a hands-on opportunity for travelers to learn about breast cancer awareness, reflecting the campaign’s dual focus on education and community engagement.
The campaign’s success hinges on spreading awareness during peak travel periods, leveraging the airport’s reach to connect with a broad audience. As the initiative continues, it underscores the importance of early detection and the personal stories driving the effort. For those affected, the message is clear: regular checks and timely medical attention can make a life-saving difference.
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