NHS Blackburn with Darwen is supporting bowel cancer awareness month to help highlight the early signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.
The awareness month comes as part of the national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign, launched by the Government to encourage people to get tested early.
Bowel Cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK with about 38,610 people being diagnosed in 2007. It is also the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer. In men, it is the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancer.
The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is now available in Lancashire. If you are aged 60 - 74 and registered with a GP you can be sent a free, easy to use home test kit which can detect the early signs of bowel cancer.
NHS Blackburn with Darwen’s director of public health, Dominic Harrison, is urging residents of the borough to heed the advice.
He said: “Spotting cancer early saves lives. More than 90 per cent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer at the early stage survive for at least five years compared with only 6.6 per cent of those diagnosed at the late stage.
“The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign is designed to make people aware of the early signs and to give them the confidence to talk to their GP.”
Symptoms to look for are bleeding from the bottom or blood in your stools, a change in your bowel habits lasting longer than four weeks, extreme tiredness, unexplained weight loss and/or pain or a lump in your abdomen.
Dr Helen Lowey, Consultant in Public Health for NHS Blackburn with Darwen, added: “Most changes in bowel habits probably won’t be cancer but if they are it is much better to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.
“If you notice a change that lasts three weeks or more - whether it’s looser stools, bleeding or anything else that is unusual for you - you should report the symptoms to your doctor without further delay."
If you are aged 75 or over, you can request a testing kit by calling freephone:
0800 707 60 60
For free confidential information and support contact the Bowel Cancer Advisory Service:
Tel - 0800 840 35 40
Email – advisory@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
