NHS messages prompting gym-goers to look out for potential signs of cancer will appear in the changing rooms of Better leisure centres across the North West this summer.

Stickers reminding people to check themselves regularly are set to feature on mirrors in 30 local leisure centres run by Better, the UK’s largest leisure charitable social enterprise.

The eye-catching stickers will feature the message ‘Check you out’ and ‘Know what’s normal for you’ before reminding people that if something in their body doesn’t feel right, to contact their GP practice.

The scheme is the latest push by the NHS to find cancers at an earlier stage, with Better joining a number of other partners, such as supermarkets and washroom hygiene specialists, to highlight cancer messages to the public in relevant everyday situations.

The new initiative comes as a survey by Better found that only 58% of respondents in the North West check their bodies for physical changes regularly (at least once a month), and 15% don’t check at all.

Dr Gareth Wallis, Interim Regional Medical Director at NHS England – North West, said: “Finding cancer early is key to successful treatment and survival, but this means that we need people who experience symptoms to come forward as soon as they spot them. This is why it’s vital that people are aware of their bodies, take notice of a change that isn’t normal for them and get it checked out immediately.

“This partnership with Better means that we’re able to reach more people to remind them to check themselves at a time and a place where they are able to do so. It’s a simple thing that anyone can do, but it really can save your life.”

Joe Rham, Customer and Communities Director for GLL, the not-for-profit charitable social enterprise that runs Better leisure centres, said: “Our aim is to improve health and wellbeing in local communities and we’re delighted to be partnering NHS England in this vital campaign.

“The survey we conducted clearly indicates a need to raise awareness of potential signs of cancer and the mirror stickers will hopefully act as a timely reminder to our customers to check themselves regularly.”

NHS staff are working hard to see and treat more people with cancer than ever before, with over 50,000 patients starting cancer treatment in June –more than nine in ten within one month – and over a quarter of a million people referred for urgent cancer checks.

The NHS also met the 28-day faster diagnosis standard for the second month in a row in June with more than three quarters of patients (76.3%) – almost 200,000 people – receiving the all clear or a definitive diagnosis within four weeks.

The survey by Better also found that 20% of respondents from the North West said they are not aware of any potential cancer signs. Although 62% said they would recognise a lump or swelling in a part of their body as a possible early sign of cancer and would seek medical advice.