Gail Curry, Bowel Cancer UK
Minutes:
Clare Stephenson, from Bowel Cancer UK, spoke to the meeting about the importance of getting tested for bowel cancer. She said the organisation was a small nationwide charity which had three main aims: awareness raising, campaigning for treatment, and providing information for people affected by the disease.
The disease affected men and women equally, and there was a great lack of awareness of the symptoms and risk factors. The symptoms for bowel cancer were bleeding or blood in the stool, bowel habits changing, weight loss, or lumps or bumps in the abdomen. If a person displayed any of these symptoms, they should visit their GP. In terms of the risk factors, these were age (50+) and a family history of Crohn’s disease, polyps in the colon and type 2 diabetes.
The good news was that everyone could decrease their risk factors by: reducing their meat intake (especially of processed meat), eating more fruit and vegetables, exercising and drinking enough water. Furthermore, smoking cessation and being screened for polyps in the bowel were important. People aged 60 to 69 were able to pick up free testing kits from their GPs. Responding to questions from the floor, Clare explained that only 60-69 year-olds were eligible for a free testing kit, but that anyone who had the symptoms she had outlined should visit their GP. She encouraged people who knew individuals over 60 to talk to them about the screening programme. Responding to questions from the floor, Clare explained that there were no studies to say whether there were certain types of red meat that were less harmful than others. The scientific advice was not to consume more than 500 grams of red meat a week.