6 April 2017
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and IBS Awareness Month
Did you watch the moving documentary last week on Rio Ferdinand, ex-England football player and him coping with life post his wife’s death from cancer a few years ago? If not then we recommend watching on BBC catch-up although we recommend you have a tissue at hand! This April it is both Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and IBS Awareness Month
with the aim to raise awareness of these diseases and to raise the importance of screening so that it can be treated and managed/cured quickly.
Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer. It affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. The cells in your body normally divide and grow in a controlled way. When cancer develops, the cells change and can grow in an uncontrolled way.
Almost 16,000 people die from bowel cancer in the UK every year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, behind lung cancer. But the number of people dying of bowel cancer has been falling since the 1970s. This may be due to earlier diagnosis and better treatment.
This year Bowel Cancer UK is focusing on bowel cancer screening. Bowel cancer screening saves lives but at the moment in some areas of the UK only a third of those who receive a test in the post complete it. Thousands of people are missing out on the best way to detect bowel cancer early when it is easier to treat and there is the greatest chance of survival.
April is also IBS Awareness Month. IBS is common with prevalence estimated at 10%
to 15%. Yet many people remain undiagnosed and unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognized disorder.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and unpredictable condition. Symptoms that change over time and are hard to talk about add to the challenge of living with it. IBS affects not only each of us who suffers, but also many others – family, friends, employers, students, teachers, patients, doctors, customers, constituents – everyone whose lives intersect with our own.
IBS Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about IBS. This event encourages people who have symptoms of IBS to seek medical advice. A further aim is to reduce the stigma associated with IBS by encouraging people to talk more about this condition. Join with IFFGD and use your voice to make a difference.
If you suffer from either IBS or Bowel Cancer and are suffering with any bladder or
bowel incontinence symptoms; then please do visit our Incontinence UK website for our wide range of discreet incontinence products designed to make life easier. We stock all the leading incontinence brands from TENA and Lille and have a wide range of incontinence pads, incontinence pants, incontinence bedding and accessories available. Alternatively if you would like some advice on the best type of products to use them please call our confidential helpline on 0800 068 3625.
Best Wishes
Incontinence UK Team
www.incontinenceuk.co.uk 
