SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is backing Bowel Cancer UK’s campaign to help raise awareness of symptoms during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April.
He said: “As a Member of the Welsh Parliament I am totally committed to increasing awareness of bowel cancer symptoms, and this month will be encouraging everyone to help raise funds to support the work of Bowel Cancer UK.
“Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Wales, with almost 2,400 cases diagnosed every year and 900 people dying from the disease.
“However, it is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early so it is really important to get this message across.
“It is absolutely vital if you are concerned to do something about it and I would urge anyone who is worried that something is wrong, to visit their GP.”
April’s Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an annual event set aside to increase awareness of bowel cancer and raise funds towards treating this condition.
Bowel Cancer UK, which is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care across the UK; support and fund targeted research to help stop people dying of bowel cancer and provide expert support and information for everyone affected by bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, claiming more than 16,800 lives a year, that’s 46 people every day. It is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, after breast, prostate and lung cancers.
Every 12 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer. That’s nearly 44,000 people every year and every 30 minutes someone dies from the disease in the UK.
Bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer. However this drops significantly as the disease develops. Early diagnosis really does save lives.
For more information, visit Bowel Cancer UK’s website.
