Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

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 6...

Llanelli rugby legend Phil Bennett is hoping to kick bowel cancer into touch after promoting Bowel Screening Wales on ITV this week. Speaking during a feature on the 6pm slot of ITV Wales Tonight, he praised the NHS bowel screening programme and said: “I’ve taken the test myself, and other members of my family have and I’ve found it absolutely outstanding – superb – and you do it in the privacy of your own home. It’s not hard to do, you send it back and the results follow.” Phil was interviewed for a news story which followed up a press release issue by the Screening Engagement Department, released to promote Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, which is held every April. Highlighting the fact that the number of people returning the test kits has fallen, the news item also featured Head of Programme, Hayley Heard, and a member of the public, David Glanmor Jones, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer after completing the test, which is sent to all men and women in Wales aged between 60 a...