'Healthy Wednesday' advice from the Hywel Dda Health Board

Latest 'Healthy Wednesday' advice from the Hywel Dda Health Board -
This Healthy Wednesday we’re supporting Bowel Screening Wales’ message – ‘don’t die of embarrassment’ – to mark the start of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer and around 1,000 people die from it each year in Wales. However, if detected early, it is also one of the most treatable but latest figures show that uptake rates in Hywel Dda for bowel cancer screening is only 54.7%.
This means nearly half of all adults aged between 60 and 74 in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire do not use the potentially life saving testing kit that can be done in the privacy of your own home.
Dr Ian Rees, Consultant Gastroenterologist at Prince Philip Hospital, said: “Early detection of bowel cancer is very important and more people need to use the home kit when they receive it. A home screening kit will be sent to you in the post when you are in the right age range, between 60 and 74, for the screening programme. It is simple to use and Bowel Screening Wales has a dedicated helpline if you have any concerns.
“It may feel embarrassing to talk about but you should always visit your GP if you notice a change in your regular bowel habit, such as constipation or diarrhoea that has lasted over a month; bleeding from your back passage or flecks of blood in your bowel motion; or severe stomach pains, especially after eating. It is a strong message but never more poignant when talking about bowel cancer – don’t die of embarrassment.”
One of the Health Board’s 10 pledges made to improve the health and wellbeing of the population is to reduce the number of people dying from cancer by 100 each year. Screening programmes are in place to ensure early detection and improve treatment outcomes.
Even if you are not within the bowel cancer screening age, don’t be embarrassed to talk to loved ones and ask them if they have received the kit and encourage them to use it.
The exact cause of bowel cancer is unknown but taking regular exercise and eating well is the general advice given for overall improved health and well being. It is also believed that a high-fibre diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain pasta, bread and rice reduces your risk of developing bowel cancer.
For further information on the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme please contact the Freephone Helpline on 0800 294 3370, open between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday, or visit www.wales.nhs.uk/bsw.
For more information on Hywel Dda Health Board’s cancer pledge please visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/10pledges or to visit Hywel’s House for more health and wellbeing advice visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/healthy-wednesday

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