PRESS RELEASE FROM MARTIN VICKERS MP
LOCAL MP PLEDGES TO BE A BOWEL CANCER CHAMPION
Cleethorpes Member of Parliament Martin Vickers has pledged to become a Bowel Cancer Champion to lead the change in Parliament for people affected by the disease.
Someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes, making it the UK's fourth most common cancer. It's also the second biggest cancer killer, nearly 16,000 people die from the disease every year. Yet bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. However, only 15% are diagnosed at the earliest stage of the disease when the chance of survival is highest.
As a Bowel Cancer Champion Mr Vickers will work with Bowel Cancer UK - the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity - to increase early diagnosis and improve access to best treatment and care both in his constituency and nationally. By working together with people affected by the disease and the clinical and research community, as well as MPs, the charity’s ambition is that by 2025, survival rates can be transformed from 60% of people surviving bowel cancer to 75%.
“So many people die from bowel cancer each year. That’s why I’m pleased to be working with Bowel Cancer UK and helping them make real change happen through my role as a Bowel Cancer Champion. I meet many different groups who stage events in Westminster to highlight the many serious diseases that can affect any of us and if I can use my position in Parliament and in the constituency to support those who suffer from these illnesses that’s got to be a good thing can be very satisfying” said Mr Vickers.
Asha Kaur, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “I’m delighted that Martin and many other MPs have pledged to become a Bowel Cancer Champion. We need to ensure that bowel cancer remains high on the political agenda and campaigning for crucial improvements to services for bowel cancer patients.”
About Bowel Cancer UK
Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity, determined to save lives and improve the quality of life for all those affected by bowel cancer. The charity supports and influences research, educates patients, the public and professionals about bowel cancer and campaigns for early diagnosis and best treatment and care for all those affected. For more information, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk
About bowel cancer
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, affecting both men and women. Every 15 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer. That’s over 41,000 people every year.
Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer. However, this drops significantly as the disease develops. Early diagnosis really does save lives.
Symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
- A change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more
- Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- Unexplained weight loss
- A pain or lump in your tummy
Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, go to see your GP.