Bowel cancer awareness saves lives

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month and, this year, Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer have joined together to form the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity, with a mission to ensure that by 2050 no one will die of bowel cancer.

A spokesperson explains: “We are determined to save lives, improve the quality of life, and support all those affected by bowel cancer. We enable and fund research, provide information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and best treatment and care.

“Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. However, it shouldn’t be because it is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.”

Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer but this drops significantly as the disease develops. Early diagnosis really does save lives, but only around 15% of people are diagnosed at the earliest stage. Being aware of the key symptoms and visiting your GP if things don’t feel right can help increase chances of an early diagnosis.

The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
 Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
 A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
 Unexplained weight loss
 Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
 A pain or lump in your tummy

Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. If you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, see your GP.

For more information click here.