Visits to NHS bowel most cancers screening net pages soar after George Alagiah’s dying
housands of individuals have sought recommendation on bowel most cancers screening following the dying of TV news presenter George Alagiah, new figures present.
NHS England, which runs the nhs.uk web site, stated that visits to the ‘bowel cancer screening’ web page on the NHS web site final week noticed a 243% enhance in comparison with the week earlier than.
It stated that there have been over 11,000 visits on Monday – the day it was introduced that the presenter had died aged 67.
The news of George Alagiah’s dying has affected hundreds throughout the nation who can have watched him on the tv, and has made many people mirror on our personal well being
He was first recognized with stage 4 (superior) bowel most cancers in 2014.
Commenting on the surge in visits to the web site, a high most cancers physician stated that the news of Alagiah’s dying “has made many of us reflect on our own health”.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s nationwide medical director for most cancers stated: “The news of George Alagiah’s death has affected thousands across the country who will have watched him on the television, and has made many of us reflect on our own health.
“These increased visits to NHS England web pages are a positive sign, because educating yourself about what symptoms and risk factors there are for bowel cancer is extremely important, as the earlier it is found, the more treatable it is.
“It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer – so if you have noticed any changes such as blood in your poo, a change in bowel habits or pain and bloating – please do come forward for checks as soon as possible.”
Quite merely, screening might save your life and we might encourage everybody who’s eligible to finish the check after they obtain it
Dr Lisa Wilde, director of analysis and exterior affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, stated: “We have seen a spike in the number of people visiting bowelcanceruk.org.uk, with thousands more people seeking information about the disease in recent days.
“There has also been more people affected by bowel cancer posting on our forum and contacting our Ask the Nurse service.
“Almost 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the UK.
“When George Alagiah was diagnosed in 2014, he spoke openly about the condition and the importance of screening.
“Taking part in bowel cancer screening can often find the cancer before symptoms develop, when it’s much easier to treat.
“Quite simply, screening could save your life and we would encourage everyone who is eligible to complete the test when they receive it.
“Whatever your age, if you’re experiencing red flag symptoms of bowel cancer like changes in bowel habit, bleeding from your bottom and blood in your poo, please contact your GP straight away. They will want to see you and may ask you to do a test at home to help decide whether your symptoms need further investigation.”
The three foremost signs of bowel most cancers are having persistent blood within the stools, an ongoing change in bowel behavior (equivalent to needing to go extra usually or struggling the runs) and protracted decrease belly ache, bloating or discomfort.
A lack of urge for food might also happen, or someone could undergo important, unintentional weight reduction.
Bowel most cancers is the fourth commonest most cancers within the UK and results in round 16,800 deaths yearly.
More than 9 out of 10 circumstances of bowel most cancers develop in older adults over the age of fifty, and almost six in 10 are in folks aged 70 or older.