Next time you go for a number two, have a peek in the loo.
Bowel cancer
is the second biggest killer cancer in the UK and spotting the warning signs in your poo early could be life-saving.
Around 43,000 people are diagnosed each year, but half of UK adults have never taken up a cancer screening invitation and over a third of adults don’t know what warning signs to look out for, according to research from Bupa.
Many feel too embarrassed to talk about their poo with a medical professional, the survey of 8,000 UK adults revealed, despite how vital it is to do so when changes are apparent.
These barriers can lead to delayed diagnosis.
But Brits are also confused about what to look for. Bupa’s Wellbeing Index asked participants about their poo and a significant portion were unsure about the colour or consistency to look out for in their stools.
Shockingly, close to one in four are less likely to seek treatment for a bowel problem than any other medical concern.
While risk of developing bowel cancer rises with age, 24% of over-55s never check the appearance of their stools.
This is having a real impact on patient lives, as more than a third of those with bowel cancer are now first diagnosed in hospital A&E.
Public Health England figures also reveal a problem in seeking help – more than one million of those invited for a bowel cancer screening
in the past 2.5 years didn’t take up the invitation within six months of being invited.
Embarrassment is a factor as to why, as over a third of those surveyed said poo is a taboo subject.
Mr Shahnawaz Rasheed, consultant general surgeon at the Cromwell Hospital, says: ‘People worry about a potential diagnosis, but also perhaps worry more about what happens during an appointment, whether that’s an awkward, personal conversation or an examination.
‘It’s worth remembering that the doctors and nurses are there to help you through any anxieties you may have and to be sensitive to your needs.
‘And there’s no need for embarrassment – we see many patients with similar problems all the time.’
When caught early, 98% of people with bowel cancer will survive for a year or more – this figure halves when caught at a later stage.