BARNSLEY residents are being encouraged to learn more about the symptoms of bowel cancer.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and a national campaign has been launched to get more people talking about the illness.
The latest figures show that bowel cancer screening uptake in the town, for those aged between 60 and 74 years old, was at 72.8 per cent last year.
This was a rise on the previous year’s figures.
New research reveals that 35 per cent of adults in Great Britain cannot identify a single symptom of bowel cancer – the second deadliest cancer in the UK.
The survey, commissioned just ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, highlights a worrying lack of public awareness despite bowel cancer claiming over 16,000 lives each year in the UK
A spokesperson for Barnsley Hospital said: “Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity, or where you live. The most important thing to know is that the earlier the disease is spotted, the more treatable it’s likely to be.
“That’s why this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month we’re supporting the Pass It On campaign.
“They’re asking everyone to share information about bowel cancer because when you Pass It On you could help someone else notice when something isn’t right.”
