- 09/02/2018
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
Mike Hedges AM National Assembly Member for Wales, has pledged to stop bowel cancer in Swansea East Constituency. Their pledge comes after meeting people affected by bowel cancer at the launch of Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer’s ‘Spotlight on bowel cancer in Wales: early diagnosis saves lives’ report at The Senedd, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday 6 February 2018.
The report highlights five out of seven health boards breach waiting times for tests that can diagnose bowel cancer, an alarmingly low number of eligible people take part in the bowel screening test (53%) and just over half of patients diagnosed with bowel cancer in Wales survive for five years or more (58%).
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Wales. Every year 2,200 people are diagnosed and over 900 people die from the disease, making bowel cancer the second biggest cancer killer. Early diagnosis is crucial because the chance of surviving the disease is closely linked to the stage of cancer.
Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage of disease (stage 1) will survive, however survival rate drops significantly for those who are diagnosed at the later stages (stage 3 or 4).
Mike Hedges AM, says: “It simply isn’t acceptable that so many people die from bowel cancer each year. We need to work harder to ensure that more people are diagnosed early when chances of survival are high. That’s why I’m proud to support Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer’s work to stop bowel cancer.”
Lowri Griffiths, Head of Wales at Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer, says: “I’m delighted Mike Hedges AMhas pledged to stop bowel cancer. By working together with people affected by the disease and the clinical and research community, as well as AMs, the charity can achieve its vision that by 2050 no one will die from bowel cancer in Wales and the rest of the UK.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
Mike Hedges AM, 97 Pleasant Street, Morrison, Swansea. Tel 01792 790621 Email – Mike [email protected]
For more information contact [email protected] or call 020 7940 1766 / 07810 204 048
Follow us on social media Twitter @Bowel_Cancer_UK and Facebook charityBCUK
About Bowel Cancer UK
Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity, determined to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by bowel cancer. The charity supports and influences research, educates patients, the public and professionals about bowel cancer and campaigns for early diagnosis and best treatment and care for all those affected. For more information, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk
About bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, affecting both men and women. Every 15 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer. That’s over 41,000 people every year.
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.
Symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
- A change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more
- Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- Unexplained weight loss
- A pain or lump in your tummy
Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, go to see your GP.
