About Us
Action Cancer is Northern Ireland’s leading, local cancer charity. We provide prevention, detection and support services to people throughout Northern Ireland.
Health Checks
Health Improvement Services
Skin Cancer Detection
Digital Breast Screening
Support & Therapeutic Services
Our Story
Established in 1973 by Dr George Edelstyn, 2023 marks the charity’s 50th year.
In Northern Ireland someone receives a cancer diagnosis every hour of every day and one in two of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. While cancer rates are on the increase, early detection and improved treatments mean that survival rates are improving. Our services have never been needed more.
We deliver our services from Action Cancer House, Belfast, in local communities and workplaces and onboard our mobile unit, the Big Bus, which travels to 200 locations throughout Northern Ireland annually. As well as operating out of Action Cancer House, we provide therapeutic services every week in 13 regional locations and we deliver our health promotion programmes to schools, community groups and workplaces all across Northern Ireland.
Our Mission
Our mission today is to save lives and support local people through cancer awareness, prevention, detection and support.
Our Vision
A future where cancer risk is reduced, cancers are detected early, successfully treated and people impacted are supported and empowered
local people engage in our local services every year
Big Bus visits throughout Northern Ireland every year
women screened for breast cancer every year
What we do
To help save lives and support people across NI
Our Services
Whether you are looking to get healthy, want access to cancer screening services, or need support because you or a loved one has had a cancer diagnosis, we have a range of services for you.
Big Bus
The Big Bus is Action Cancer’s bespoke mobile unit. Our first Big Bus served the NI public from 2006 – 2020 and our new vehicle, principally funded by Walk the Walk, was launched in 2021.