April is #bowelcancerawarenessmonth so on this week’s blog we’re talking all about the symptoms to look out for.
Did you know there are 5 main symptoms of the disease we should all be aware of?
According to Bowel Cancer UK, someone dies of bowel cancer every 30 minutes in the UK. A recent survey carried out by them showed that nearly four in ten people in the UK can’t name a single symptom of bowel cancer.
That’s why they have now launched their #KnowTheHigh5 campaign to raise awareness of the red flag symptoms of the disease.
5 main symptoms
These are the five main symptoms, experienced by many people who go on to be diagnosed with the disease:
– blood in your poo
– change of bowel habits
– pain or lump in tummy
– weight loss
– tiredness/fatigue
Other symptoms to look out for include:
– changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
– needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
– bleeding from your bottom
– often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
– bloating
It’s important to know what is normal for you and to get advice from your GP if something doesn’t seem quite right.
Early tests for bowel cancer are simple and non-invasive and you can even do them yourself at home so don’t let embarrassment put you off seeking advice if you think there maybe something wrong.
I don’t think any of us will ever forget the fabulous Dame Deborah James who did so much to raise awareness of bowel cancer and to remove the stigma attached to it.
Catching any cancer early gives a greater chance of survival so be aware of the symptoms, get advice as quickly as possible if you are concerned of any changes or experiencing the symptoms above and please share this blog with all of your loved ones to make them aware of the symptoms too.
For more information on bowel cancer symptoms and treatment click here.