This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, health experts from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust are raising awareness of the symptoms and where to seek advice.
The symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- bleeding from your bottom and / or blood in your poo
- a persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
- unexplained weight loss
- extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- a pain or lump in your tummy.
The team of six colorectal and bowel care nurses are specially trained to help and give advice to patients who need bowel surgery. With bowel cancer being the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, the need for their service is ever-growing.
When diagnosed with bowel cancer and referred through to their service via the GP, an appointment will be made with a member of the team to talk about results and the benefits and risks of treatment options.
“Surgery is the most common treatment for bowel cancer alongside radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Although, surgery may not be recommended if you are too unfit for the operation or if you have advanced cancer that cannot be moved by surgery,” said Kate Davies, Patient Centred Follow Up in Colorectal Services.
“We are always here for our patients, from diagnosis to the end – we are with them every step of the way.”
When asked why bowel cancer awareness month is important to them, the team replied: “We’re campaigning to improve early diagnosis by ensuring people have access to the right test at the right time. Around 16,000 people die from bowel cancer each year, making it the UK’s second biggest cancer killer.
“However, this shouldn’t be the case as the disease is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.”
The well-established team works together with medical colleagues to improve bowel cancer care for patients treated at Walsall Manor Hospital. Colleagues are #WalsallandProud and are constantly working to develop their service.
For any advice and guidance, the team can be contacted on 01922 656300 and messages can be left on the answer machine and picked up the same day or next working day.