WITH the nationwide spotlight next month (April) on bowel cancer, as the fourth most common cancer in the UK today, people in Harlow are being urged to join The
Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) in beating bowel cancer together.

Doctors and nurses at the Harlow hospital will be highlighting the topic in an effort to dispel the reluctance people have to talk about the subject; and the strong message is that ‘early diagnosis means better prognosis’.

Deepa Cruz, colorectal cancer nurse specialist and Allison Benn, stoma care nurse specialist, are leading the information campaign. Deepa emphasised: “Early diagnosis does save lives, but only around 15 per cent of people are diagnosed at the earliest stage.”

Allison explained: “As part of the testing to promote early detection, people are asked to provide a sample of their stool – or poo. People feel embarrassed talking about it – but we want everyone to see there should be no embarrassment in talking about this illness.”

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.

That is why the clinicians at PAHT are going all out to encourage people to go to the doctor with any symptoms; but to do this, people need to be know more about bowel cancer. During Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April, Princess Alexandra Hospital staff will be visible both at the hospital and in the town centre and are saying: come to us and talk about it.

To take away some of the taboo around the subject, nurses are kicking off the month with a special “Stop the Poo Taboo” event at the hospital on Tuesday 2 April. They will be enlisting the help of their Poo mascot and hope this will help put people at ease in talking about the issue. They are inviting patients and visitors to come along to Patient Visitor Centre at the front entrance of the hospital, in Hamstel Road, CM20 1QX, from 10am to 2pm when everyone will be able to get information or speak to staff.

Later in the month, they will be at the Harvey Centre, in Harlow town centre, on 24 April; come along to their stand from 12pm to 2pm, when you can speak to bowel cancer specialist nurses and clinicians to find out more about bowel cancer and pick up some

Andy Morris, chief medical officer at PAHT, said: ”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 we are working together with Bowel Cancer UK to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms; so come along and find out – and help us beat bowel cancer together.”