DID you know that bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, responsible for ten percent of all cancer deaths in the UK?

One of the most frustrating things about this fact is that many bowel cancers are treatable and curable if we catch them early enough, but people often delay seeking help due to embarrassment or not recognising the signs.

If you experience bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo, a persistent and unexplained change in your bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness for no obvious reason, and/or a pain or lump in your tummy, go and see your doctor as soon as possible.

Many people feel embarrassed or uncomfortable visiting their GP about their bowels, but I can speak for all GPs when I say there’s really nothing you can show us that will shock. It’s far more frustrating to hear that someone needlessly risked their health by putting off making an appointment.

Bowel cancer can strike anyone at any age, but there are factors that can make you more susceptible – especially if you have a family history of the condition. As with many things, being overweight or smoking increases your likelihood of getting bowel cancer. Whatever your weight though, there’s strong evidence to suggest that not eating enough fibre or having too much red or processed meat increases your cancer risk.

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods to help you to maintain a healthy gut and reduce your chances of getting the disease. Exercise can dramatically reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer too and a sedentary lifestyle can increase it, so try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity, five or more days a week.

The NHS offers free screening for bowel cancer and we would love to see more people take it up. If you’re between the ages of 60 and 74, you should be automatically invited to do a home testing kit every two years to screen you for internal bleeding. Please don’t ignore it, screening really does save lives.

However old you are, don’t wait for a screening test if you are concerned. It can all feel a bit undignified, but the testing processes are quick and could save your life. The bottom line is you can’t die from embarrassment, but you can from cancer.

Dr Jeff Stoker is a local GP at the Bermuda and Marlowe Practice in Basingstoke, with over 20 years’ experience in the NHS.