Over 70 new bowel cancer cases in Louth each year

Over 70 people in Louth are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, according to new figures from the Irish Cancer Society.

At the launch of its annual Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the Irish Cancer Society has said that over 2,700 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in Ireland, and approximately 74 of these cases are in Louth.

More than 1,000 people die from the disease every year, making it the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland.

Kevin O’Hagan, Cancer Prevention Manager with the Irish Cancer Society said, ‘Bowel cancer most commonly occurs in people over 60 years of age and is often diagnosed in the later stages. However, if bowel cancer is caught early, it is extremely treatable so we would encourage people to be aware of the signs and symptoms and to take our online Bowel Health Checker: www.cancer. ie/bowelhealth

Mr O’Hagan adds, ‘Worryingly, 60% of bowel cancer cases occur in men but only 35% of eligible males have availed of the State’s free screening programme- BowelScreen, compared to 45% of women. It is vital that people avail of the free service that is offered every two years to men and women aged between 60 and 69 as screening plays an important role in diagnosing cancers. The symptoms of bowel cancer include: a change in your normal bowel motion, such as diarrhoea or constipation; feeling you have not emptied your bowel fully after a motion; pain or discomfort in your abdomen or back passage; trapped wind or fullness in your tummy; weight loss; tired and breathless (due to anaemia from blood loss) ; rectal bleeding or blood in stools.

For more information on BowelScreen call Freephone 1800 45 45 55 or visit www. bowelscreen.ie