Free advice centre in town for bowel cancer awareness

APRIL is bowel cancer awareness month, and people will be able to get free information and support in Skelmersdale.

Macmillan Cancer Support’s Mobile Information and Support Service will be visiting the area tomorrow, Friday, with cancer information specialists on hand to answer any questions.

The team encourages anyone with worries relating to cancer to stop by.

Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer and in 2013-2015, on average more than four in 10 (44%) of new cases were in people aged 75 and over.

It is very treatable and the earlier it is diagnosed the easier it is to treat.

Debbie Smith, a Macmillan information and support specialist on the unit, said: “Knowing what changes to look for and when to see your doctor could make a real difference.

“Don’t be scared or embarrassed and don’t ignore them if you have symptoms. “Get them checked.” Men and women are advised to see their doctor if they have any of these symptoms:

Bleeding from your bottom.

Blood in your stools or bowel motions for three weeks or more.

Looser stools or bowel motions or diarrhoea that lasts for four weeks or more.

Pain or a lump in your stomach or back passage.

Feeling as though you haven’t emptied your bowel properly after going to the toilet.

Losing weight for no obvious reason.

Feeling more tired than usual for some time.

The mobile will be at The Concourse Shopping Centre, Southway, from 9am to 4pm

A variety of bowel cancer-related materials are available free from the team, who can also talk through any queries.

Materials are also available for other forms of cancer.

For further information, go to www.macmillan.org. uk/mobileinfo