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BE LOUD! FOR BOWEL CANCER
Ian Gibson MP today pledged his support for Beating Bowel Cancer’s BE LOUD! campaign (28th January to 3rd February 2008) and encouraged all Norwich residents to join this innovative, fun charity campaign to help break down taboos about bowel cancer, the second biggest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.
During BE LOUD! week, hundreds of fundraisers nationwide will do or wear something loud, and get sponsored for their efforts! Bowel cancer currently claims almost 50 lives every day, and will affect 1 in 18 people during their lifetime, but if caught in time it can be treated successfully. Awareness of the disease and its symptoms is vital to ensure bowel cancer is diagnosed early, and Beating Bowel Cancer’s BE LOUD! campaign hopes not only to raise funds, but also to raise public awareness of this common cancer.
Speaking at the charity’s Parliamentary Launch Event held in the Houses of Parliament last night, Ian said, “We politicians do not often need an excuse to be loud and outspoken, and I am delighted to be supporting this very worthy BE LOUD! campaign! I would like to congratulate Beating Bowel Cancer on the excellent services they offer to patients and their families, and urge my constituents to get behind the campaign and make a noise about bowel cancer!”
Beating Bowel Cancer’s Chief Executive, Hilary Whittaker, added: “We are grateful to all our supporters and fundraisers who embrace the BE LOUD! campaign with such enthusiasm and help us to give bowel cancer and bowel cancer patients the voice they deserve. This year’s campaign not only continues to raise awareness of the disease, but also gives us an opportunity to remind government and decision-makers to act on our important Bowel Cancer 2012 Challenge, which broadly calls for a significantly increased profile of bowel cancer within the UK and to an improvement in patient outcomes.”
Those interested in taking part in BE LOUD! should visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org for plenty of noisy, flamboyant fundraising ideas or to download fundraising materials such as posters, flyers and sponsorship forms. Alternatively call Beating Bowel Cancer on 020 8892 5256.
- THE BOWEL CANCER 2012 CHALLENGE was published in January 2007 and calls for a coordinated, national awareness and education campaign to raise the profile of bowel cancer; faster introduction and improved uptake of the current NHS bowel cancer screening programme in England, and extension of the programme to include men and women aged 50+; availability of clinically effective treatments at the right time in the right setting for all patients; and recognition of the value of prolonged, quality life.
- BEATING BOWEL CANCER WAS SET UP IN 1999 and exists to raise awareness of symptoms, promote early diagnosis and encourage open access to treatment choice for those affected by bowel cancer. For more information on the charity, and bowel cancer, visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org, call 020 8892 5256 or write to Beating Bowel Cancer, 39 Crown Road, Twickenham, TW1 3EJ. Registered charity no.1063614.
- BOWEL CANCER – THE FACTS:
Bowel cancer statistics
- Bowel cancer is a disease of the large bowel (colon) or rectum. It is also sometimes called colorectal or colon cancer.
- It is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.
- It is the third most common cancer in the UK after breast and lung cancers.
- Of the 100 new cases of bowel cancer diagnosed every day, almost 50 people die from the disease.
- Every seven days bowel cancer claims 322 lives – that is like a DC-10 passenger aircraft crashing every week.
- In 2003 there were 35,006 of new cases of bowel cancer in the UK. In 2005 there were 16,092 deaths from bowel cancer in the UK.
- Around one in 20 people will get bowel cancer at some point in their life.
- It affects men and women almost equally.
- 83% of cases arise in people who are 60 years or older
- 50% of the UK’s adult population is not aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer
- 64% of the general public had neither seen nor heard any educational information about bowel cancer in the previous 12 months.
What causes bowel cancer?
- Experts do not know precisely what causes most bowel cancers, and in many cases there are no obvious causes.
- Diet, lifestyle and family history are the three things most likely to affect a person’s chances of developing bowel cancer.
- Your risk of bowel cancer increases with age but it does affect younger people (10% of people dying from bowel cancer are under the age of 50).
How can you improve your lifestyle to reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer?
- Eat a healthy diet. This means eating lots of fruit, vegetables, wholegrain foods and fish, and less fat, red and processed meat.
- Take regular exercise and try to maintain a healthy weight.
- Stop smoking.
- Cut back on alcohol.
- Know your body and how it usually functions so that you recognise changes in your bowel habits.
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
Not everyone will experience symptoms and the symptoms may vary. The most common symptoms to look out for are:- A persistent change in bowel habit, especially going more often or looser stools for several weeks.
- Bleeding from the bottom without any obvious reason.
- Abdominal pain, especially if severe.
- A lump in your tummy.
Please remember that most of these symptoms will not be cancer. If you have one or more of these symptoms for more than four to six weeks you should go and see your GP.