NHS cancer advice printed on shower gel for first time

The NHS and Morrisons have joined forces to put advice on own-brand bath and shower gels urging people to look out for possible signs of cancer. People will be able to see clear advice printed on a range of nine bottles, urging them to look out for lumps, swelling, skin changes and unexplained bruising. Messaging on the bottles includes “Be body aware” and “Know the signs of cancer”. The products will start to appear in about 450 Morrisons stores and online throughout this month. Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: “If you notice a lump, swelling, skin change or anything else that doesn’t look or feel right while you’re in the bath or shower, please contact your GP practice. “This campaign is about turning an everyday routine into a simple health check reminder, helping people know their bodies better and spot possible signs of cancer earlier. In most cases it won’t be cancer but, if it is, finding it early can make all the difference.” An NHS spokesman said it was open to working with other supermarkets who may wish to add labels to their products. Ed was 27 when he noticed a dull ache in his right testicle in summer 2024. When the pain became sharper a few months later, he got it checked and was diagnosed with testicular cancer after a blood test and ultrasound. After surgery and a short round of chemotherapy, Ed was told he was cancer free within three months. He said: “You just never expect to hear the words ‘you’ve got cancer’, and for me it was a total shock. Thankfully, because I found it early, scans showed that it hadn’t spread anywhere else. I went through surgery within weeks and, to give myself the best chance of it not returning, I completed a short round of chemotherapy. Less than three months after my diagnosis, I was told I was cancer free. “Having NHS messaging on things like shower gels is a great way to get across an important reminder to check for cancer while you might be washing in the privacy of a bathroom. It’s especially key for something like testicular cancer, which can easily go unnoticed if you’re not paying attention to your body and checking yourself regularly. “If you do find something, it’s important not to be embarrassed about it – it could be nothing at all, but it’s always better to get it checked.” David Scott, corporate affairs director at Morrisons, said: “The messaging highlights the importance of spotting the symptoms early and encouraging people to reach out to their GP if something does not feel right, both of which can lead to earlier treatment and ultimately saving lives. “It is a vital message and we believe in the importance of helping the NHS reach as many customers as possible to encourage them to get checked and be body aware.” The partnership follows a previous Morrisons and NHS campaign to feature breast and testicular cancer advice on the supermarket’s Nutmeg branded underwear.