News release
13 May 2011
Embargoed until Monday 16 May 2011
Campaign helping to be clear on bowel cancer
People in Coalville and parts of Loughborough are being targeted in a special
campaign highlighting the symptoms of bowel cancer and the importance of
taking part in the national screening programme.
About one in 20 people develop bowel cancer in their lifetime. Coalville and
Loughborough have been chosen by NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland
because the people living there are at a slightly higher risk of getting it.
The campaign starts today (16 May) and will include posters and advertisements,
as well as leaflets in GP surgeries and libraries encouraging people to look out for
the symptoms which might mean they have bowel cancer.
Symptoms everyone should look out for include:

Blood in stools or bleeding from the bottom

A persistent or unexplained change in bowel habits such as diarrhoea or
constipation lasting several weeks

Extreme tiredness for no reason

Unexplained weight loss

A severe tummy pain or lump in the tummy
The campaign is also encouraging those aged between 60 and 69 to take the
simple bowel cancer screening test when they receive it through the post. GPs in
Coalville and parts of Loughborough have been asked to telephone patients who
are about to receive the screening kits locally to encourage them to take the test.
Dr Mike McHugh, consultant in public health at the PCT, said: “The earlier the
diagnosis, the better the chance of survival.
“Bowel cancer is rare under the age of 40, and becomes more common from
middle age onwards. It is important that people know what symptoms to look out
for, as being treated at an early stage of the disease increases the chance of
being cured.
“It is also important that people aged 60-69 take up the offer of bowel cancer
screening and use the bowel cancer screening kit as it can detect bowel cancer in
those with no obvious warning symptoms.”
In addition there are steps everyone can take to reduce their chances of getting
bowel cancer:

Look after yourself – make sure you are getting your five-a-day of fruit and
vegetables, eat more fish and wholegrain foods, fewer fatty foods like cakes
and pastries, and processed meats like bacon and ham. Keep your alcohol
intake to under 14 units per week for women and less than 21 units per week
for men

Stay fit – exercise often (such as walking to the local shops instead of taking
the car) and try to maintain a healthy weight

Stop smoking – there’s plenty of support available. Call 0845 045 2828 for
help quitting from the Stop Smoking Service.
ENDS
This press release was issued by Caroline Higgs at NHS Leicestershire County
and Rutland. For more information or interviews contact the communications
office on 0116 295 7663.
Notes to editors:
NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland is the operating name for Leicestershire
County and Rutland Primary Care Trust (PCT).
About one in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It
is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of
cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying from it each year. Across Leicester,
Leicestershire and Rutland around 630 people develop bowel cancer each year
and around 225 will die from it.
Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from
bowel cancer by 16 per cent. Over 60,000 people across Leicester, Leicestershire
and Rutland are invited to take part in screening each year and around 33,000
participate. Around 60-70 cancers will be detected each year that the patient did
not know they had as they weren’t experiencing symptoms.
North West Leicestershire:

54 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007

Since 1993 the number of new cases of bowel cancer have increased each
year and is now 24 per cent higher than in 1993

In 2009 there were 22 deaths due to bowel cancer

The mortality rate for men dying from bowel cancer is lower than the national
average, however the mortality rate for women is higher

Since 1993 the number of people dying from bowel cancer each year has
decreased by 19 per cent
Charnwood:

98 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007

Since 1993 the number of new cases of bowel cancer has increased each
year and is now 11 per cent higher than in 1993

In 2009 there were 37 deaths due to bowel cancer

The mortality rate for men dying from bowel cancer is lower than the national
average, however the mortality rate for women is slightly higher

Since 1993 the number of people dying from bowel cancer each year has
decreased by 13 per cent