Many of us have been following the inspirational journey of Dame Deborah James, also known as ‘Bowelbabe’. Deborah spent her life working as a teacher up until her bowel cancer diagnosis in 2016, and since then has dedicated herself to sharing her story through working as a journalist, podcaster host, author and charity campaigner. Deborah was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire – which was conferred on her by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at her family home. Dame Deborah James sadly passed away on the 28th June 2022, having raised nearly £7 million for Cancer Research UK through her Bowelbabe fund - https://www.bowelbabe.org/

The awareness that Dame Deborah raised for bowel cancer has been immeasurable, and for an incredibly worthy cause. Please see below an excerpt from the NHS UK Website for an overview of bowel cancer and its symptoms. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, please don’t ignore them and talk to your GP. It may be absolutely nothing to worry about, but in the words of Deborah; “check your poo – it could just save your life.”

“Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer. Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Most people diagnosed with it are over the age of 60.

The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are:
• persistent blood in your poo – that happens for no obvious reason or is associated with a change in bowel habit
• a persistent change in your bowel habit – which is usually having to poo more and your poo may also become more runny
• persistent lower abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating or discomfort – that's always caused by eating and may be associated with loss of appetite or significant unintentional weight loss
Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. See a GP if you have any of the bowel cancer symptoms for three weeks or more.”

For more information on bowel cancer, you can visit these useful websites below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bowel-cancer