Mark Francois MP is supporting Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this year and recently attended Parliamentary drop in event at Westminster, hosted by Bowel Cancer UK.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK with nearly 43,000 people diagnosed every year. That means every 15 minutes someone is diagnosed with the disease.
Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage. However, this drops significantly as the disease develops, with over 16,500 people now sadly dying from the disease each year.
New findings released by Bowel Cancer UK for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month have revealed that more than four in ten (45%) people in the UK cannot name a single bowel cancer symptom. Early diagnosis is essential to improving bowel cancer outcomes and being able to recognise the symptoms and speaking to your GP when you feel something isn’t right, could save your life.
The symptoms of bowel cancer can include: A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in the toilet, a pain or lump in your tummy and extreme tiredness for no obvious reason.
Dr Lisa Wilde, Director of Research and External Affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, comments: “Bowel cancer remains the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, and it’s shocking that people aren’t aware of the symptoms to look out for. We’re delighted to have the support of Mark Francois MP who attended our Parliamentary event and who will help raise awareness of bowel cancer in Rayleigh and Wickford.”
After the event, Mark Francois MP commented “As the second biggest cancer killer, it is crucial that we continue to raise awareness of the disease. I look forward to working closely with Bowel Cancer UK to improve early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care both in Rayleigh and Wickford and nationally.
