This month marks Bowel Cancer awareness. Did you know that every 15 minutes someone in UK is diagnosed with bowel cancer ? According to Bowel Cancer UK charity every year in UK about 16,000 people die of this terrible disease that is 44 people a day. This is the fourth most common cancer in UK and the second biggest cancer that kills.
Apart from the scary statistics if caught early this disease can be treated and can be cured. Early diagnosis improves the chances of recovery. We all have to help educate, inform and raise awareness of this so that people get the chance to receive treatment in a timely manner.
The bowel is part of the digestive system and is made up of the small intestine and large intestine. Bowel cancer also known as colorectal cancer which affects the large bowel this is made up of the colon and rectum. Cancer usually develops from pre-cancerous growth known as polys which could be cancerous and if the cancer spreads it could spread to the liver or lungs.
We know that despite great efforts by those in the NHS services were stretched even before the pandemic so since the pandemic there is a danger that many people may have been reluctant to seek care on account of putting more pressure on the NHS. However, it is important that medical attention is sought quickly as that has a direct impact on treatment and recovery prospects. It is very possibly many people will be referred late which means their treatment will start late if so, this will have an impact in years to come because there will be many more people who may be diagnosed later than they would have been because of the pandemic.
On a positive note as from April this year, the NHS England are rolling out bowel cancer screening to the over 50’s which until now was available to the over 60s. The screening is offered every 2 years until the age of 75.
Though this cancer can happen to the young and not so young those over 50 are at risk. Families with bowel cancer, type 2 diabetes and long standing history of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are also at higher risk as are those with a history of non- cancerous polyps in the bowel.
The G.P. is the best and first point of contact. So if you or a loved one is concerned consult the G.P .immediately.
Bowel cancer screening is a good way to detect this. This is where a home test is sent so it can be done in the privacy of one’s home and then sent for checking
If diagnosed the patient is cared for by a multi -disciplinary team which will usually include a Colorectal surgeon, a nurse, a clinical oncologist, a radiologist and a Stoma specialist nurse.
Treatment usually will be surgery unless the cancer is advanced followed by radiotherapy and or chemotherapy.
Like with most cancers if this is caught early, and treated early the recovery rates are better with some being able to recover fully.
There is a wealth of information and helpful advice at the https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/ but everyone should do their bit to raise awareness of bowel cancer so together we can give patients and their families a fighting chance to get the medical help they need early.
If you or your loved one have suffered due to medical negligence and would like an informal chat with our medical negligence team please give us a call on 0330 107 0107 or contact us by email at clinicalnegligence@imd.co.uk and a member of our team will be more than happy to arrange a call back for a free no obligation and informal chat to see if we can help you or even signpost you as to what your options might be.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.
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