Bowel Cancer: Do you Know the Score?

Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer, with over 41,200 new cases each year. It’s also the second biggest cancer killer.

Every 90 minutes three people die of the disease. That’s 44 people each day - the equivalent to four football teams - but it needn’t be that way.

Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Over 95% of bowel cancer patients will survive the disease for five years or more if diagnosed at the earliest stage. 

Symptoms of bowel cancer can include: 

• Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo 
• A change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more 
• Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason 
• A pain or lump in your tummy 
• Unexplained weight loss 

Most people with these symptoms won’t have bowel cancer, but if you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, visit your doctor. You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting it checked out.

If it’s not serious, your mind will be eased, and if it is bowel cancer, the earlier you are diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment and cure. A trip to your doctor could save your life. 

Club captain Bailey Wright said: “Bowel cancer can affect anyone at any age so it's really important everyone is aware of the symptoms as early as possible.” 

Throughout football ‘Star of Hope’ badges are being worn during the campaign, which is also supported by the Men’s Health Forum, The Bobby Moore Fund, Adam Stansfield Foundation, Beating Bowel Cancer, Bowel Cancer UK and Know the Score’s founding charity, the Mr Brightside Project. 

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING BOWEL CANCER

• Eat healthily: Eating plenty of wholegrains, pulses, vegetables and fruit. Avoid processed meat and limit intake of red meat. 
• Cut down on alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can lead to a number of health problems and is linked with bowel cancer. By drinking less, you’ll reduce your health risks. 
• Keep active: Swim, cycle, go dancing - the more you can do, the better. Even walking to your local shops instead of taking the car can make a difference. 
• Stop smoking: Giving up will lower your risk of getting bowel cancer. Visit smokefree.nhs.uk.

To find out more visit www.knowthescore.org.uk or follow @KnowTheScoreUK on Twitter.