Published on 13 April 2023
A Wirral bowel cancer survivor has urged people to understand the symptoms of the disease and to use NHS screening when it is offered to them.
Glyn Salmon is warning people to come forward if they have signs of bowel cancer. He was diagnosed with the disease after suffering from severe bloating and noticing blood in his poo – two of a number of tell-tale signals.
Glyn, aged 63, suffered from bowel polyps when he was younger and doctors recommended they were removed as they can turn cancerous.
But 20 years later, in 2016, when he saw blood in his poo after going to the toilet, he underwent a series of tests, including a colonoscopy, which led to the bowel cancer diagnosis.
He had surgery and before chemotherapy and radiotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. “I have kept in touch with other patients I met during my radiotherapy,” said Glyn, who lives in Greasby. “It was uplifting to realise you were not alone in going through this.”
Cancer returned a few years later and complications from this surgery meant he had to give up his sport of cycling – but only after raising £4,000 for Maggies centres from a sponsored ride over the Stelvio Pass, in Italy.
Glyn, a patient representative for Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance, is helping to promote Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. He said: “I have severe pain from the surgery but I am just so grateful to be alive. The NHS has been there for me and can be for everyone who has symptoms of this disease. If you do, get checked out.
“Coming forward early with signs of bowel cancer is so important as the earlier these things are diagnosed, the earlier they can be treated. Which means people have a better chance of a good outcome.
“If you get the chance to have bowel screening, please take it. The screening kit can pick up problems before symptoms even appear.”
Symptoms of bowel cancer may include:
- changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- bleeding from your bottom
- often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
- tummy pain
- bloating
- losing weight without trying
- feeling very tired for no reason
Dr Ash Bassi, Cheshire and Merseyside Endoscopy Network Clinical Lead, said: “Bowel screening uptake in the North West is one of the lowest in the country and yet incidence of bowel cancer is one of the highest. Only around 10 to 15% of our patients come via the screening route and the rest come forward when they have symptoms. I’d like to see that change completely because the outcome is best for those who come via the screening route.”
Information on bowel cancer and the screening programme can be found at: nhs.uk/bowel-screening. People concerned that they may have missed their invitation or have lost or thrown away their kit can call the free bowel cancer screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60.