Nearly one third of people in NI unable to name a single bowel cancer symptom
Bowel Cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer with someone dying from the disease every 30 minutes.
Nearly a third of people in Northern Ireland cannot name a single symptom of bowel cancer, a leading cancer charity has said.
Bowl Cancer UK’s new survey also found people living in wealthier regions are more likely to be aware of the red flag bowel cancer symptoms compared to people living in more deprived areas.
Bowel Cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer with someone dying from the disease every 30 minutes.
However, the charity has said that the disease is treatable and curable if detected early
Bowel Cancer UK has launched its campaign, KnowTheHigh5, to help people spot the symptoms of bowel cancer. Bowel Cancer UK has launched its campaign, KnowTheHigh5, to help people spot the symptoms of bowel cancer.
The launch is ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April.
One of the keys ‘red flag’ bowel cancer symptoms is blood in your poo but only around half of people (52%) in Northern Ireland were able to name it.
The other four main symptoms, experienced by many who go on to be diagnosed with the disease, have “an alarmingly low rate” of awareness based on what those people could name:
· Change of bowel habits (33%)
· Pain or lump in tummy (20%)
· Weight loss (11%)
· Tiredness/fatigue (8%)
However, people living in Belfast are more likely to be aware of the red flag bowel cancer symptoms compared to the national average of the country, with over a third of people (36%) aware that blood in your poo is a red flag symptom of the disease.
Meanwhile, the results from the YouGov survey also found nearly 7 in 10 people (68%) across Northern Ireland said if they experienced a change in bowel habit like diarrhoea or constipation that did not clear up, or saw bleeding from their bottom, would stop them from contacting their doctor. Their reasons included difficulties getting an appointment (42%), being too embarrassed (11%) or being too afraid that it could be something serious (14%).
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