Step up for 30 and help beat bowel cancer

Tameside and Glossop residents are being urged to contact their GP if they spot the symptoms of bowel cancer.

It is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK with someone diagnosed every 15 minutes but it’s treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.

This April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month and NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is backing Bowel Cancer UK’s campaign urging local people to contact their GP practice if they have any symptoms or if things don’t feel right. 

Year on year, the CCG says it continues to see an increase in the number of people who complete a bowel screening test when offered, but this still remains below the national standard.

Bowel cancer is more common in the over 50s but can affect people of all ages, but nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage. However this drops significantly as the disease develops.

Bowel Cancer UK is offering free online awareness talks to workplaces and community groups about symptoms, risk factors and screening and can offer training in all aspects of bowel health, screening and symptom awareness.

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

During April, they are also encouraging people to sign up to Step up for 30! to encourage people to get fitter and healthier while raising money to help stop people dying of bowel cancer by funding vital services and life-saving research. 

Dr Ashwin Ramachandra (pictured), Co-Chair at NHS Tameside and Glossop CCG, said: “Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms, but if you have one or more of the symptoms highlighted, or if things just don’t feel right, contact your GP practice.”

For more information, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk 

Campaign information can also be found at: https://www.tamesideandglossopccg.org/campaigns/bowel-cancer-awareness