April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the 4th most common type of cancer in the UK and the second biggest killer.
Yes, it means we’re going to talk about poo and that’s because talking about it could literally save lives. The problem? We’d rather talk about the weather, train delays or holiday plans than say “Hey, my poo’s been looking a bit off lately”.
According to Cancer Research UK, nearly a third of UK adults surveyed (an estimated 17.4 million UK adults) said that they were embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about changes in their poo or bowel habits with a GP / doctor.
What is Bowel Cancer?
Bowel Cancer is cancer that starts in the large bowel and can also be called colorectal cancer. The bowel is part of the digestive system, and the large bowel is made up of the colon and rectum.
If diagnosed early bowel cancer is treatable and beatable.
Symptoms include:
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Blood in your poo or on the toilet paper
- A change in bowel habits including opening your bowels more or less often or having diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go
- Losing weight
- Tummy pain or discomfort
- Feeling like you haven’t quite finished after going
Having these symptoms does not mean you have bowel cancer, but it is important to find out what is causing them.
The Power of Talking Poo
Talking about bowel habits shouldn’t be awkward. Every poo has a story: and sometimes that story needs medical attention.
Sharing your experience can help others realise they’re not alone, and maybe even encourage someone to get checked out. It’s not too much information – it’s potentially life-saving information.
Diagnosis
In England people between the ages of 50 and 74 will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
The bowel cancer screening programme uses a test called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT). You collect a small amount of poo, and it is sent to a lab who check for blood in your poo. If the result is positive, you will be invited for further investigations.
However, it is important to note that bowel cancer can affect people of all ages so if you have any symptoms to contact your GP and ask for an at home test.
Treatment
Bowel cancer is treatable if diagnosed in the early stages, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
Treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy.
The Bottom Line
This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month let’s flush the embarrassment and wipe away the stigma. Look after your gut, notice the signs and speak up if something doesn’t seem right.
Help and support is available from Bowel Cancer UK.
Bowel Cancer UK have also run two fantastic campaigns:
#GetOnARoll to put bowel cancer symptoms on supermarkets own brand toilet roll where people see them most to educate the wider community on the symptoms as nearly four in ten people cannot name a single symptom of bowel cancer.
The Never Too Young campaign was also launched in 2013 to lead the change for younger bowel cancer patients as bowel cancer can affect young people too.
There’s also Dame Deborah James’s (“The Bowel Babe”) incredibly legacy of trying to help smash poo taboos: #ToiletTalk
Kirsty Dakin is a specialist medical negligence solicitor and says ‘It is so important to raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer as the earlier people are diagnosed the more treatable it is. Although none of us like talking about poo it can save your life.’
MDS is a specialist medical negligence law firm. We specialise in claims involving cancer, maternity, and cauda equina syndrome. Our expert solicitors represent clients all around England and Wales, and we are dedicated to helping people who have been injured by medical negligence.
Our solicitors have extensive experience of representing clients and their families whose lives have been affected by medical negligence Click here to read more about how we can help you, and here to read our client’s stories.
If you are concerned about any care that you or a member of your family has received, please contact our experienced team on 0116 254 7456 or email: enquiries@moosaduke.com. You can also enquire online by clicking here.
