Former Leeds United great Norman Hunter will be returning to Elland Road on Monday 12 September with a simple message that doing the bowel cancer screening test could be a lifesaver.

NHS Leeds is co-ordinating the campaign, aimed at people aged 60-74, to encourage local people to complete the bowel cancer screening test. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer and those at greatest risk are people aged over 60. Screening can identify bowel cancer before symptoms begin, often at an early stage when it can be successfully treated.

Speaking of his decision to support the campaign, Norman Hunter says: “I know from personal experience that it is essential to get tested for this killer disease before it is too late. I know some people may feel embarrassed about completing the test. I know how quick, easy and confidential the whole process is. Now I want to urge anyone who has already been sent a testing kit to complete it. If you’ve not had your kit don’t worry one will be sent out automatically if you are aged 60-74. If you have lost your testing kit call the national helpline to request another one – it could save your life.”

Kay Mellor OBE, has backed the campaign with a poignant message: “I lost my brother to bowel cancer aged 61. He was such a robust and outgoing character who seemed invincible. He had no idea that he was ill but the doctors said he had been ill for some time. If he had taken one of these tests he could still be alive today.

“It seems to me that bowel cancer is a disease that can fester away for years before it presents itself, so we have to be proactive in screening ourselves for it, in the same way that women are proactive in screening for breast cancer. The test takes little time and is very easy to do yet it could save your life.

“I applaud the initiative of NHS Leeds and their lifesaver campaign – it is so important that people are aware of this disease and the steps they can take to beat it.”

Dr Simon Balmer, Head of Health Protection for NHS Leeds, adds: “Our campaign message is really simple - the bowel cancer test is a lifesaver. We are grateful for the support we have from Norman Hunter and Kay Mellor OBE and hope that their personal experiences will encourage others to complete the test as it could help diagnose bowel cancer before it is too late.”

Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer because many patients are diagnosed too late. Screening can identify bowel cancer before symptoms begin, often at an early stage when it can be successfully treated. To date, bowel cancer screening has identified over 7,000 cancers, and a further 40,000 polyps have been removed, preventing thousands more. However the current take up rate in Leeds is around 50%, considerably lower than those of the best national cancer screening programmes.

Anyone aged 60-74 is eligible for a bowel cancer screening test. The screening kits are sent out automatically by the National Cancer Screening Programme. Anyone eligible is sent a testing kit once every two years.

If anyone is worried about bowel cancer they can speak to their family doctor (GP). Those aged 60-74 can find out more about the bowel cancer screening test by calling the national helpline on 0800 707 6060. To find out more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme visit www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/.

Notes

National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme started being rolled out in July 2006 and achieved nationwide coverage by 2010. If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will automatically be invited to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme every two years. If you are not sure, talk to your GP or partner, family or friends about it. The tests can detect bowel cancer before obvious symptoms begin to appear and can be a real life-saver.

Completing the test
The test is straightforward to do. You’ll need to collect three sets of stool samples over different days and then return the test to be processed. A FREEPOST envelope is included to return the test for processing.

You will get the results within two weeks. The test looks for blood in your stools. It does not diagnose bowel cancer but the results will show whether further investigation is needed.

Symptoms of bowel cancer (source: Cancer Research UK)
The symptoms of large bowel cancer can be
• Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
• A lasting change in normal bowel habits towards diarrhoea or looser stools
• A lump in the right side of your abdomen, or in your rectum
• A straining feeling in the rectum
• Losing weight
• Pain in your abdomen or rectum
• Anaemia (a low level of red blood cells), caused by the tumour bleeding. This can lead to tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.

Cancer of the bowel may cause a blockage (a bowel obstruction). The symptoms of this are griping pains in the abdomen, feeling bloated, constipation, and being sick.

Factors that raise the risk of bowel cancer
Your lifestyle can increase your risk of getting bowel cancer. A diet that is high in fat and red meat, high alcohol consumption, being obese and a lack of physical activity can raise your risk.