Well Man 45+
| Bowel Cancer – preventable, treatable, curable!
Bowel cancer – also known as colon and colorectal cancer – is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK. Over 100 people are diagnosed every day and around half die. Yet thousands of those deaths are unnecessary and avoidable. The Facts More men develop bowel cancer than women – 1 in 18 will be affected in his lifetime – and more get rectal cancer which is more difficult and unpleasant to treat. Women – 1 in 20 will develop bowel cancer in her lifetime but, because women live longer, men are at the greater risk. Like other common cancers, it mainly affects older people – over the age of 65, but thousands of younger people will develop it every year. Yet, caught at an early stage, bowel cancer is over 90% curable. The Symptoms Bowel problems are common – they account for 2.5% of all GP visits. 1 in 20 people have rectal bleeding and 8 million people have prolonged stomach upsets in any year. Most people who turn out to have bowel cancer have a combination of symptoms. Higher risk symptoms:
Who is at risk?
Screening Screening is the best way to catch bowel cancer early – it is by faecal occult blood kit and colonoscopy and half of England and Scotland are already covered by the NHS National Screening Programme. Wales started in late 2008 and Northern Ireland intends to start in 2009. For more information have a look at www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign Lynn Faulds Wood, the former BBC Watchdog presenter, was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer after a year of medical delay when her son was three – “my GPs thought my subtle rectal bleeding was probably piles.” Lynn’s cancer was in the lymph nodes and cured by good surgery. Lynn and her charity now campaign for awareness, prevention, earlier diagnosis, screening, better surgery and care. For more information about every stage of the patient journey, contact: Lynn’s Bowel Cancer Campaign
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