Bowel Cancer Awareness for Hartlepool
Burton Albion, in partnership with the PFA, the LMA and all major Bowel Cancer charities are coming together to raise awareness of the symptoms of Bowel Cancer at this weekend’s game at home against Hartlepool United.
The “Know the Score” campaign launched in 2011 to raise awareness of bowel cancer. A year later, the Star of Hope badge, the national bowel cancer symbol, was introduced and this year, the Mr Brightside Project, in partnership with the Bobby Moore fund, the Adam Stansfield Foundation, Beating Bowel Cancer, Bowel Cancer UK, the Men’s Health Forum and the Professional Footballers Association, are again combining to spread the word about the second highest cause of cancer death in the UK.
Over 40,000 men and women of all ages are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, with a knock-on effect on a quarter of the population. During every football match, 7 people will be diagnosed with the disease – and 3 of them will die.
Bowel cancer can affect men and women of all ages. So get to know your body and if you notice any of the following and they last longer than three weeks, make an appointment to see your GP:Â
Bleeding from the bottom without any obvious reason
A persistent change in bowel habit to looser or more frequent bowel movements
A lump in your tummy or tummy pain, especially if it’s severe
Chances are it won’t be cancer, but it’s better to play safe.
As well as spotting it early, one way to help tackle bowel cancer is to do things that can reduce your risk of developing the disease. Taking these steps doesn’t definitely mean you won’t develop cancer, but it helps to stack the odds in your favour:
Maintain a healthy weight
Be physically active
Cut down on alcohol
Be a non-smoker
Eat a healthy, balanced diet that’s high in fibre and low in red and processed meat