One in 80 men screened in NI has abdominal aortic aneurysm

Michael Hughes, from Carrickfergus in County Antrim, had never heard about AAAs until he got a letter about screening.

His scan showed a large aneurysm (6.6cm/2.6in) which he said was a “big shock” as he had no symptoms.

“[I was] scared and frightened of it because it’s something that I hadn’t known about, but they said it was dangerously large,” the 67-year-old said.

“I was told that if it happens to burst, basically, that’s it – it’s over.

“That’s why I was taken in, why they found a space so quickly for me.”

Michael had surgery 11 days later on 23 December 2022 and spent Christmas in intensive care in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

He said it was good that it was all very quick “because you had less time to think about it”.

Michael said AAA screening was “very important” and is urging everybody who gets a letter to get screened “because it can save your life”.

“I take every day now,” he said.

“I’m glad for every day more than I was before, because I know how precious life can be with it,” he said.