Campaign for cancer awareness (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Campaign for cancer awareness

11:00am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News By Gazette reporter

FAMILY doctors and pharmacists throughout the south are supporting a major bowel cancer campaign.

It encourages people to visit their doctor if they have loose stool or blood in their faeces for more than three weeks, and offers simple information about symptoms of the disease.

Dr Gabriel Scally, director of public health for NHS South of England, said: “Although the great majority of those presenting with these symptoms will not have bowel cancer, some will – and early diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment.

“A pilot of this campaign was run in the east of England and the south-west last year and it was very successful.

“There was a significant increase in the number of people being referred by their GP to a hospital consultant and a consequential increase in the number of people being tested for bowel cancer.”

Bowel cancer is the second-largest killer cancer in England, but catching it early makes it much more treatable.

Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said nobody wanted to talk about their “poo”. But he added: “We need to get over the embarrassment and talk to someone about it. No matter how embarrassing it is, talking to your GP can help to save your life.”

There will also be a number of events in shopping centres, Mecca Bingo halls and pharmacies. For further information about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, please visit nhs.uk/bowelcancer.