Join Princess Alexandra Hospital in walk to beat bowel cancer

With the spotlight nationally on bowel cancer this month as the fourth most common cancer in the UK today, people in Harlow are being urged to join Princess Alexandra Hospital in beating bowel cancer together.

Having achieved a top rating for reduced waiting times for cancer treatment, the trust is reinforcing its commitment to the battle against cancer, by organising a bowel cancer awareness walk on Thursday 26 April – and is inviting everyone to join in.

Residents in Essex and Hertfordshire can be assured that their local hospital provides a top class service, after it topped trusts nationwide to reach number one for cancer treatment waiting times. Doctors at the hospital have now turned their attention to bowel cancer, with the message that ‘prevention is cure’ and there is no better time to get involved.

They are inviting residents and supporters to join them for a social walk from the hospital to the town’s rugby club. Walkers will meet at 2pm outside the restaurant at the hospital in Hamstel Road, Harlow, for coffee and cakes, with a short introduction by a consultant, a patient and a member of the trust executive team. The two and a half mile walk will then take the following route: the gardens at the hospital restaurant; hospital grounds; town centre; Harlow Leisure Centre and end at the rugby club.

The event will finish at 5pm with light refreshments available to all who take part.

Bowel cancer affects around 1 in 14 men and 1 in 19 women in the UK. If diagnosed at an early stage, it can be treated very successfully in over 90% of cases. In spite of this, bowel cancer remains the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, claiming a life every half an hour.

Narasimhaiah Srinivasaiah, consultant colo-rectal surgeon, the organiser of the walk, said: “We are committed to fighting cancer and awareness is the first step”.

“Let us beat bowel cancer together. Join us for the walk – let us talk about it.”
Deepa Cruz, colorectal cancer nurse specialist, said: “Early diagnosis does save lives, but only around 15 per cent of people are diagnosed at the earliest stage. Being aware of the key symptoms and visiting your GP if things don’t feel right can help increase chances of an early diagnosis. That’s why this April Princess Alexandra and

Bowel Cancer UK are raising awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and by joining the walk you can help spread the word too.”

For more information about this event, please email Deepa at [email protected] or [email protected] /[email protected] or call Deepa Cruz on 01279 827182.
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