‘If you’ve fears about body, get checked out’
WOMAN WHOSE FIANCE HAS BOWEL CANCER URGING OTHERS TO SEE GP IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS
A WOMAN whose fiance was diagnosed with bowel cancer is urging anyone with symptoms of the disease to seek help now – because it could save their life.
The sad fact is that about half of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK - after breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer - with about 42,300 people diagnosed with the illness every year, according to Cancer Research UK.
The good news is that most people survive the disease – also known as colon or colorectal cancer – but only if spotted by doctors early enough.
This would suggest that its status as the second most deadly, after lung cancer, is down to not enough people getting diagnosed in time.
Cara De Faye, from Rearsby, near Syston, whose fiance Lee Hancock, 38, was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago, has now urged anyone with the symptoms to seek help immediately.
Cara, 40, said: “It’s hard to believe the cancer that is one of the easiest to treat is also among the most deadly, especially if not diagnosed in good time.
“It goes to show just how important it is for all of us to be aware of changes in our bodies and, without going overboard, seek medical advice and reassurance if something of concerns does crop up.”
The number of urgent GP referrals for cancer dropped 60 per cent in April this year compared to 2019, according to the British Medical Journal, as people stayed away from surgeries at the start of the pandemic and treatments were delayed due to the pressure on the NHS.
Although Lee’s illness is somewhat unusual, in that it does not respond to chemotherapy, she has become something of an expert in the intervening years – teaming up with researchers at the University of Birmingham and setting up a fundraising appeal to help find a cure.
THINGS TO KNOW
Age – there’s no such thing as being to young or too old. Check with your GP that they are not making assumptions about your diagnoses based on your age.
There has been a large increase in under 50s being diagnosed with bowel cancer, and it’s increasing in the 30s/40s age groups too.
Mutated cancers such as Lee’s type BRAF V600E is on the increase, with the largest increase being in younger women.
While a lot of bowel problems turn out not to be cancer, don’t feel brushed off if you aren’t happy that you are being taken seriously. This is your life and the earlier it is caught the easier it is to sort out.
WHAT IF I HAVE IT?
Get a thorough diagnosis.
Make sure you find out the exact stage of your cancer.
Make sure you find out if you have a mutation.
Make sure you speak with your consultant and GP to explain this to you – it also makes sure they know too!
Understanding your diagnosis is vital to get the correct treatment and in the correct order.
Understanding this early on will help with survival.
Find positive people, close your ears to the negatives, keep a focus on what you can do, not what you can’t.
Cara added: “It’s very important to remain positive and to remember that the early stages of bowel cancer have a very good success rate in terms of treatment and survival. Even with later stages, while very reduced, success rates are changing and breakthroughs are being made.
“My advice is to keep going and keep positive – change is always on the horizon.” To donate and help support Cara and Lee’s research at the University of Birmingham, visit the online Just Giving page. For more information visit the Bowel Cancer UK website.