Ten minutes that could save your life... yet thousands of men aren't turning up
24.02.2024 - 09:27
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
I arrived for my appointment at a health centre in Bury and was seen promptly. Screening technician, Claire Butterworth, explained the procedure and ten minutes later it was over and I had my result.
The simple ultrasound scan of my abdomen checking for an aortic aneurysm had revealed I did not have one. I had received an invite for a scan as I am 65 in March and had been referred by my GP.
Claire explained that the diameter of my aorta from the inner wall to the inner wall was 1.8 to 1.9 cm. This was "normal". "Anything below 3cm is normal, 4.5 would be a medium aneursym and 5.5 large. If we assessed a large the person would see a consultant within a few weeks, and if they require surgery that would be done within eight weeks," said Claire.
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Adominal aortic anuerysms account for 5,000 deaths a year in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation. But, astonishingly, on the day I attended for my scan eighteen other men who had been invited for a scan at the same health centre did not turn up.
Claire said: "We think there are different reasons why men don't turn up. One is because they have never heard of this type of screening. They get a letter, think 'I don't know what this, I won't bother'. There might be language barriers, learning difficulties, or if they are moving in and out of the area. Some men don't want to know and will bury their head in the sand. I don't wish to generalise, but some men are not proactive with their health."
She added: "If you can imagine the artery walls getting thinner - like a bicycle inner-tube with a bulge in it that is where there is a weakness in the rubber - and if it gets too big it ruptures. If an aneurysm