Hospital backs campaign to beat bowel cancer

1:30pm Friday 28th January 2011

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THE Great Western Hospital is getting behind the Be Loud Be Clear week – Beating Bowel Cancer’s annual campaign to fundraise and raise awareness of being loud and clear about the symptoms of bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK; however the earlier bowel cancer is caught the easier it is to treat and the higher the survival rate.

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is offered every two years to everyone (registered with a GP) in England aged 60 to 69.

Those eligible will receive a letter and a leaflet explaining the test, along with a home testing kit in the post.

Dr Manish Hegde, consultant gastroenterologist at Great Western Hospital, said: “It is really important that people are aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer for example, a persistent change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, or severe abdominal pain.

“Those who are experiencing symptoms should see their GP at the earliest.

in its early stages however, bowel cancer does not cause any symptoms, so this is why the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme was developed, to ensure early diagnosis and help treat people more effectively.”

The kit tests for blood hidden in stool samples. it does not diagnose cancer, and if blood is found in the sample it does not always mean cancer.

If your test is positive you will be offered a colonoscopy, a camera examination of the bowel.

Dr Hegde said: “I would encourage those who are invited, to take part in the bowel screening programme.

“The earlier it is picked up, the easier it is to treat successfully, and it could save your life.”

for more information about the symptoms of Bowel Cancer, and Be Loud Be Clear week visit Beating Bowel Cancer at beatingbowelcancer.co.uk.

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