A DROITWICH medical expert is urging residents to be aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer in case they contract the disease.
The calls come from consultant colorectal surgeon Simon Radley who is based at the Spa’s BMI Hospital and also founded the Birmingham Bowel Clinic.
He said: “If you know what is normal you can then act if something out of the ordinary happens.
“A change in your bowel habit that lasts for three weeks or more, blood in your poo are warning signs that need acting upon as soon as possible.”
Other signs include unexplained weight loss, feeling tired without reason, stomach pains or a lump in the stomach.
If spotted early, it can be treated in 90 per cent of cases.
Figures from Cancer Research UK show more than 93 per cent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer at an early stage survive for at least five years, whereas it is just seven per cent for those who catch it at a later stage.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Mr Radley said, although there was no clear cut reason why some people developed the disease, people could make some lifestyle changes to reduce their own personal risk.
These include stopping smoking, as long-term smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop bowel cancer, and cutting down on alcohol intake as heavy drinking has been linked with the disease.
Being a healthy weight helps, as does exercising regularly because it enables food to pass through the system quicker.
Residents should also drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fibre – from whole grains, seeds, fruit and vegetables.
Visit www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk for more about bowel cancer.
