Dear Editor,
I wanted to make your readers aware that April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and I’m supporting Bowel Cancer UK to raise awareness of the disease.
The charity has released new findings which reveal more than four in ten (45%) people in the UK cannot name any symptoms of the UK’s second biggest cancer killer.
It’s been 20 years since I lost my mum to bowel cancer when she was just 47. There have been many advances in treatments in that time but it’s vital that people recognise the symptoms and act on them.
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
People whose bowel cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher chance of successful treatment than those whose cancer has become more widespread. If you have any symptoms, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them, please contact your GP. Early diagnosis could save your life.
To find out more about bowel cancer, visit Bowel Cancer UK’s website: www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk
Charlene White
Award-wining journalist, ITV news presenter, Loose Women anchor and Bowel Cancer UK patron
