Check-ups record rise
Record numbers of people are having bowel cancer checks after the death of campaigner Dame Deborah James, health bosses have said.
Dame Deborah, also known by her social media handle Bowel Babe, had been raising awareness about the disease until her death on June 28 at the age of 40.
According to the NHS, between the months of Mayand July, 170,500 people referred for checks for suspected lower gastrointestinal cancers.
It is up over 30,000 compared to the same period in 2021, and nearly 80,000 higher than the same period two years ago.
Figures also showed referrals for bowel cancer hit an all-time high in the second week of July, shortly after Dame Deborah’s death, up 60% on prepandemic levels.
The last three months also saw almost 200,000 more visitors to the NHS website to check symptoms.