Campaign aims to get men talking health

RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan is urging women to get their men talking about their health.

Ms O’Callaghan is a key supporter of Blue September, a campaign to get Irish men to become more pro-active about protecting themselves against cancer.

Blue September campaign manager Chris Flack said one in three men in Ireland, compared to one in four women, were diagnosed with cancer every year.

He said men weregenerally less likely to seek advice from a qualified health professional and had a more pessimistic view of their changes in relation to treatment.

The campaign, now in its second year, is working with about 30 large organisations in promoting better male health awareness.

Blue September Ireland raises awareness of cancers most likely to affect men, including bowel, lung, prostate, and testicular cancer while fundraising for Irish charities — Cancer Care West, the Mater Foundation, and the Mercy Hospital Foundation.

The campaign is encouraging supporters to host a blue event one day this month this month.

* blueseptember.ie