1000’s of individuals have sought recommendation on bowel cancer screening following the death of TV information presenter George Alagiah, new figures present.
NHS England, which runs the nhs.uk web site, mentioned that visits to the ‘bowel cancer screening’ web page on the NHS web site final week noticed a 243% enhance in contrast to the week earlier than.
It mentioned that there have been over 11,000 visits on Monday – the day it was introduced that the presenter had died aged 67.
The information of George Alagiah’s death has affected 1000’s throughout the nation who could have watched him on the tv, and has made many people mirror on our personal well being
Professor Peter Johnson
He was first identified with stage 4 (superior) bowel cancer in 2014.
Commenting on the surge in visits to the web site, a prime cancer physician mentioned that the information of Alagiah’s death “has made many people mirror on our personal well being”.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s nationwide scientific director for cancer mentioned: “The information of George Alagiah’s death has affected 1000’s throughout the nation who could have watched him on the tv, and has made many people mirror on our personal well being.
“These elevated visits to NHS England web pages are a constructive signal, as a result of educating your self about what signs and threat components there are for bowel cancer is extraordinarily necessary, as the sooner it’s discovered, the extra treatable it’s.
“It’s necessary to concentrate on the signs of bowel cancer – so when you’ve got seen any adjustments akin to blood in your poo, a change in bowel habits or ache and bloating – please do come ahead for checks as quickly as attainable.”
Fairly merely, screening might save your life and we might encourage everybody who’s eligible to full the take a look at after they obtain it
Dr Lisa Wilde, Bowel Cancer UK
Dr Lisa Wilde, director of analysis and exterior affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, mentioned: “We have now seen a spike within the variety of individuals visiting bowelcanceruk.org.uk, with 1000’s extra individuals in search of details about the illness in current days.
“There has additionally been extra individuals affected by bowel cancer posting on our discussion board and contacting our Ask the Nurse service.
“Nearly 43,000 persons are identified with bowel cancer every year within the UK.
“When George Alagiah was identified in 2014, he spoke overtly in regards to the situation and the significance of screening.
“Participating in bowel cancer screening can typically discover the cancer earlier than signs develop, when it’s a lot simpler to deal with.
“Fairly merely, screening might save your life and we might encourage everybody who’s eligible to full the take a look at after they obtain it.
“No matter your age, in case you’re experiencing purple flag signs of bowel cancer like adjustments in bowel behavior, bleeding out of your backside and blood in your poo, please contact your GP immediately. They are going to need to see you and should ask you to do a take a look at at residence to assist determine whether or not your signs want additional investigation.”
The three most important signs of bowel cancer are having persistent blood within the stools, an ongoing change in bowel behavior (akin to needing to go extra typically or struggling the runs) and protracted decrease stomach ache, bloating or discomfort.
A lack of urge for food may additionally happen, or any person could undergo important, unintentional weight reduction.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most typical cancer within the UK and leads to round 16,800 deaths yearly.
Greater than 9 out of 10 circumstances of bowel cancer develop in older adults over the age of fifty, and almost six in 10 are in individuals aged 70 or older.
