April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and over the next few weeks our Colorectal Nursing Team will be aiming to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this type of cancer and encouraging you to take advantage of bowel cancer screening when it is made available to you.
They will be highlighting Bowel Cancer Screening and symptoms at stands that will be outside our hospital Chapel on Thursday 9 and Tuesday 14 April and will be on hand to have a chat with anyone who would like to talk to them.
When diagnosed early, nine in ten people survive bowel cancer. That’s why this #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth, Bowel Cancer UK are asking for help to raise awareness of the disease, so everyone has the best chance of an early diagnosis.
Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender or ethnicity.
Symptoms can include:
- bleeding from your bottom
- blood in your poo
- a change in your pooing habits. You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go
- losing weight but you’re not sure why
- feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
- a pain or lump in your tummy
Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have bowel cancer, but it’s still important to find out what’s causing them.
If you have any of these symptoms you should talk to your GP and ask about an at-home test.
The earlier that bowel cancer is diagnosed, the more treatable it’s likely to be.
For more information please visit; https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/bowel-cancer-awareness-month/ or please come along to the stand on Thursday 9 or Tuesday 14 April.
