Georgie: Two Years On

Greetings from Cyprus!

My birthday is now hugely bittersweet because it also marks the day Georgie died. Tomorrow will be two years since his death and I struggle massively with the fact that I get another year older on the day he stopped living. Everyone does their best to make the day nice but I was very close to Georgie and I can't help but think of him, as I do everyday. 

I loved Georgie very much. I still talk about him lots and I think about him all the time. He is still very much a part of my everyday life with this blog and my voluntary work but there is definately a hole in my world without him. I don't think that will ever change, he is simply irreplaceable. It's hard to find the right words so I will keep this blog post nice and short. I just wanted to publicly acknowledge what will be a very bittersweet day for me.

Love you Georgie. Missing you more and more everyday xxx

Guest Post: Paulie's Guide to Fundraising

This Sunday will see thousands of people take to the streets of London for the marathon. I'm very proud to say that I know several people pushing themselves to run 26.2 miles for charity this year and I sit here in absolute awe of them - I couldn't imagine ever being able to do so!

My lovely colleague and friend Emma Smith and her fiance Paul Hill are very passionate and creative fundraisers, as I have mentioned in this blog before, and Paul will be running the marathon to raise fund for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Paul has very kindly written a guest post for me with some handy hints and tips for fundraising. I hope you find it as interesting and informative as I have!

Thanks Paul!

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Fundraising Tips

On Sunday 21^st April I will be tackling my second London Marathon.  I am proud and honoured to be running for Macmillan Cancer Support and the last 6 months raising money for them.

A few years ago I took up running, mainly as it was a cheap way of getting fit.  As my running developed, I began to enjoy pushing myself further and started to enter some organised races.  This coincided with the start of my association with Macmillan Cancer Support.  When I started entering races, it seemed only right that I should use the opportunity to try and raise some much needed funds for Macmillan.  Initially, my targets, like the distances I was running were rather modest.   I quickly realised that sending begging emails and shaking collecting tins was only going to take me so far.  Then it dawned on me that if I was going to take my fundraising to the next level, I was going to have to come up with something a little bit different. 

Below are a few of the ways I have raised money over the last few years.  I hope you find them useful. 

Darts Tournaments

Me and my mates are partial to a game of darts.   Over a few pints and a couple of legs of darts me and my good friend Rich started to joke about putting on our own tournament  Once we had sobered up we thought ‘why not – let’s give this a bash, what’s the worst that can happen?’ and so the Macmillan Darts Classic was born.   

Despite our initial nerves, the MDC has become a roaring success and is now a regular fixture on the fundraising calendar, with the 16 places selling out in a matter of days, at a cost of £20 per team.  Thanks to the generosity of my friend Tom for providing the winners’ trophies and Richard, landlord of the Horseshoe we do not have to pay a penny to put the event on and so it always turns a healthy profit.

An Evening of Darts with Steve Beaton

Once again thanks to the generosity of Richard at the Horseshoe in Clerkenwell, we recently managed to pull off our most spectacular event yet – a darts exhibition with former world champion Steve “The Bronze Adonis” Beaton.  For £25 each, 18 darts fans each played a leg of 701 against the Adonis and also had a picture with him, a special set of darts flights and a signed scorecard.  Spectators paid £5 each to come along to take in the atmosphere, including a hugely entertaining Q and A session with Steve.  Thanks in part to some marvellous fundraising from Tom to cover the cost of hiring Beaton for the night, this turned out to be the most lucrative event yet, with well over £1,000 raised on the night.

Quiz Nights

My pal Matt has a history of running quiz nights and mentioned how he would like to put one on for one of fundraising efforts – his actual words were “I can’t run a marathon, or even run for a bus for that matter, but I can put on a quiz!” – and so Paul and Matt’s quiz nights were born.  Matt works miracles to come up with obscure questions and some stunning picture and music rounds.  We charge £5 per person for teams of up to 6, with a bottle of fizz for each member of the winning team.   Ware very fortunate to be accommodated the Leyton Orient Supporters Club at very little cost.   We used Twitter, Facebook and forums to attract as wide a range of participants as possible and hope to run the next quiz soon.

Paulie’s Pontoon

A slight variation on the traditional sweepstake.  Players pay £5 to enter and are assigned a team at random from the Premier League or Football League.  The winner is the first team to score exactly 21 league goals and they win 25% of the pot.  Second place wins 10% and the remainder goes to Macmillan.  This has been hugely popular among football fans and non football fans alike and encourages lots of friendly competition!

Bottle Tombola

A traditional tombola with a twist!  An ingenious idea that sadly I cannot claim complete credit for!  In trying to find a way to squeeze some more money from those attending the darts tournaments we simply collected a random assortment of bottles (water, vodka, gin, bubble bath, vinegar, etc...) and asked everyone attending the tournament to bring a bottle.  For £1 you are able to pull 5 tickets out of the hat.  If your number matches that on any of the bottles then you are a winner. A simple, yet very effective way of raising a few extra pounds!

Raffles

No fundraising event would be complete without a raffle.  Over the years we have managed to attract some amazing prizes, from sports tickets and signed memorabilia to free meals, haircuts and even juicers!  You name it we have managed to give it away in a raffle.  I have been indebted to a lot of hard work from my close friends and family and have been absolutely bowled over by the generosity of people willing to donate prizes.  It would be impossible for me to mention everyone, but a special thank you must go to Leyton Orient Football Club who has supported me magnificently over the years with tickets (for football and darts), hospitality and signed shirts.

Top Tips

Fundraising doesn’t have to be one dimensional – with a bit of creative thinking, anything is possible! My top tips are:

·     *Give your donors something for their money

·     *Put on events that appeal to the widest possible audience – Don’t be afraid to invite anyone and everyone to join in and don’t be offended when people don’t respond!

·      *Think outside the box!  The more imaginative the idea, the better

·      *Use yours or friends’ contacts to get prizes – Also don’t be afraid to speculatively email local business and ask for support

·      *Arrange your events around payday and give people every opportunity to spend as much money as possible once they arrive

·      *Make full use of social media to publicise your efforts – Twitter is a particularly effective way of attracting new supporters

·      *Above all else, enjoy it!  It can become hard work, but remember why you are doing it!

Finally, I must stress how fortunate and grateful I am for the support I have had from friends, family and colleagues in raising so much money over the years.  Without the tireless and ingenious efforts of a few very special people, none of this would have been possible.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/runpaulierun

Cancer Types: Ewing’s Sarcoma

This post is dedicated to Alice, a lovely lady and a real inspiration. You are amazing Alice!

Ewing’s Sarcoma is named after the doctor that described it in the 1920’s, Dr James Ewing. It can develop anywhere in the body, although it usually starts in the bone (known as a primary bone tumour). Any bone can be affected but the most commonly affected bones are the pelvis, femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone).  Ewing’s sarcoma is most commonly found in teens and young adults, although it can affect any age group. It is more common in males then in females.

Ewing’s sarcoma can sometimes occur in soft tissues rather then bone but this is quite rare. This is known as extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma.

The exact cause of this cancer type is as yet unknown. It could be related to rapid bone growth in some way and would explain why it is commonly found in young people.

Pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer but the symptoms of Ewing’s sarcoma will depend on the position of the cancer and its size. Swelling may occur and the affected area may be tender to touch. Bone cancer is sometimes diagnosed when a bone breaks due to it being weakened by cancer, usually after a minor fall or accident. The symptoms can be difficult to spot as they can be caused by other things as well but any persistent bone pain should be checked by a doctor.

If Ewing’s sarcoma is suspected then you may be referred to a specialist for further investigations including biopsies, x rays, bone scans, MRI or CT scans. Your bone marrow may also be tested.

Ewing’s sarcoma is very rare and they are usually treated at specialist hospitals. A combination of treatment is usually used to treat this type of cancer and this can include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Treatment will depend on the size and position of the tumour although most people have chemotherapy to reduce the tumour and treat any cells that may have spread to other body parts before having surgery around three to six months later. Chemotherapy usually continues after surgery as well.

Amputation of the affected area used to be common for Ewing’s sarcoma sufferers but it is now sometimes possible to just remove part of the affected bone and replace with a bone graft from another part of the body or use prosthesis. This is known as limb sparing surgery. However, in some cases amputation is necessary, especially if the cancer has spread to surrounding nerves and blood vessels.

I hope this short but informative blog post has been helpful for you, please do contact Sarcoma UK if you are worried about Ewing’s sarcoma http://www.sarcoma.org.uk/

xxx

Skin Cancer Cases Are Rising - We Need to be SunSmart

Happy Monday one and all!

It appears spring is here at last! I read some alarming news regarding skin cancer today so I just wanted to refresh everyones memory about protecting your skin as we (hopefully) approach the summer months.

This morning it was revealed that the number of skin cancer (basel cell carcinomas to be precise) are double what was previously thought. This means it is nearly as common as all other cancers put together and there are now believed to be more then 200,000 cases in the UK every year. This means cases of skin cancer have risen by around 80% in the last decade.

Although skin cancer is very treatable if found early enough, it is still a very dangerous form of cancer and I wanted to use today’s news to shine a light on skin cancer and the need to protect your skin by being sunsmart.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. The number of people suffering from skin cancer is increasing. This could be because being tanned is seen as being beautiful and not having much sun in the UK has seen people running for the sunbeds.

What is skin cancer?

There are two main types of skin cancer:

* Malignant melanoma - the most serious type. Usually develops in the outer layer of your skin. Visible signs of melanoma include moles changing the way they look or feel. Malignant melanoma is one of the fastest rising cancers in the UK and have risen by more then four times since the 1970's. worryingly, we see more melanoma deaths then Australia, although they have more cases of the disease. Melanoma is a cancer that affects young adults. It is the second most common cancer seen in people aged between fifteen and thirty four. However, your risk of developing the disease increasing as you get older. Melanoma is more common in women then in men. Most commonly found on a woman's leg or a man's torso.

* Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is more common then melanoma and easier to treat. It is commonly found on areas of the body exposed to the sun frequently (head, neck, arms and hands) There are two types of NMSC and they both tend to affect older people.

BASAL CELL CANCER is more common. Slow to grow and usually begins as a small flattened lump. It can be red, pale or pearly and sometimes scaly, almost like eczema.

SQUAMOUS CALL CANCER is more serious and can spread if left untreated. It appears as persistent scaly spots, lumps or ulcers which bleed easily and are red in appearance.

Early Diagnosis Saves Lives

Being conscious of your skin and noticing any changes is key to diagnosing skin cancer and saving lives. Make sure you know where your moles are and monitor them regularly. If any changes in size, shape or colour occur then get to your GP as quickly as possible. Skin cancer is much easier to treat in it's early stages.

Risk Factors

Some people have a higher risk of developing skin cancer then others. These people will have one or more of the following factors:

* Fair skin that burns easily

* Lots of moles and/or freckles

* Frequent sunburn

* Red or fair hair

* Light coloured eyes

* A family history of skin cancer

* Personal history of skin cancer

How Can I Try To Prevent Skin Cancer?

There are things you can do to try and protect your skin. Wearing SP15+ suncream, covering up as best you can and finding shade during peak sun hours (12-4) all help look after your skin and protect it from harmful UV rays. Avoiding sunbeds is obviously a huge factor, you are 75% more likely to develop cancer if you use sunbeds even once before you turn thirty five. If you really do need a tan then I really do encourage you to use a fake tan spray rather then running to the sunbed; your skin and your health will thank you for it.

Here are a few tips for being “Sunsmart”:

Sunburn – Sunburn is a sign that your genetic material (DNA) has been damaged by UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds. Damaged DNA will cause your cells to start multiplying out of control and this can lead to skin cancer. The painful symptoms you suffer whilst sunburnt are your body’s attempts to repair the damage that has been caused. Getting sunburnt one very two years can TRIPLE your risk of the most serious type of skin cancer – melanoma. Peeling occurs when your body tries to get rid of cells that have become so damaged that they have to be destroyed. It is important to remember that you can still burn on cooler days so it is vital to wear SPF as much as possible – especially on your face.

Sunscreens – Cancer Research UK recommend using a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least fifteen and that protects you against UVA rays. It is important to remember that sunscreens expire after about 2-3 years so always check the expiry date! For sunscreen to be effective you needed to do the following things:

*Apply to clean and dry skin

*Apply liberally – around two spoonsful are good if you are covering your heads arms and neck but two tablespoons is good for covering your entire body whilst wearing a swimming costume.

* Reapply regularly, especially after swimming. Sunscreen can easily come off, especially if you are sweating. Even waterproof sunscreen needs to be reapplied throughout the day.

* Use sunscreen along with clothes, a hat and try to sit in shade as often as possible to avoid sunburn.

*Avoid keeping sunscreen in hot places as heat can ruin the protective chemicals.

Covering Up – You are more protected if you cover up more skin. Materials with a close weave offer the best protection as they block out the most UV rays. However, when clothes are wet, they stretch and allow more waves to get through. For example, a wet cotton T-shirt may only offer you HALF the protection of a dry one. Hats are an excellent way of protecting your face, your eyes and your head. A wide brim one is the best kind. Sunglasses are good but they must have a statement to say they offer 100% UV protection or a UV 400 label to offer you proper protection. The wraparound style are the best (just ask my dad, he has some!!)

Shade – UV rays are strongest between 11am and 3pm. You need to be extra vigilant about protecting yourself against the sun during this time. You can find shade with lots of different things, for example, trees and foliage, umbrellas and canopies.

Working Outdoors – People who frequently work outdoors have about three to four times more UV exposure then people working indoors. Your employers have a legal obligation to protect your health and safey, including your exposure to UV rays and your risk of skin cancer. This is due to the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974. To protect yourself, you should try and find some shade to work in between 11 and three during the summer months and try and spend your break times out of the sun. Wearing a protective had and sunglasses where possible should be done and applying sunscreen is a must.

One of my fellow Cancer Campaigns Ambassador, Justine, had skin cancer in the past and is very passionate about raising awareness of skin cancer and encouraging people to be sunsmart.

Justine was a sun worshiper for most of her life. She developed a sunbed habit when she was about fifteen years old and she slowly became obsessed by having a tan. Like many women, she felt better when she was brown. Eventually her habit caught up with her and she was diagnosed with skin cancer.

Justine worries that people are not properly aware of how dangerous and serious malignant melanoma is. She says: “People’s perceptions of skin cancer are it’s a spot and it can be removed, but it isn’t”

Justine has a bump that resembled a wart. It would crust, pus and then dry up. It got blacker as time went on. Justine didn’t think she would ever develop skin cancer, that sort of thing happens to other people, not her. But it did. She had to have cancer removed from her chest, then her back and then her head.

Justine has, thankfully, made a full recovery and now lives a “sunsmart” lifestyle. She bravely shares her story to discourage others from endangering themselves. Using sunbeds before you’re thirty five will increase your chances of developing malignant melanoma by 75%. This is a massive, shocking statistic that I urge you to think of every time the sunbed calls you. There are brilliant fake tans available now and if you really must be brown; fake it!!!!

 I hope this information persuades you to give up the sun. We all know having a tan is a confidence boost but faking it really should be your only option. Skin cancer can be very aggressive and is does affect a lot of people. Please do consider becoming “Sunsmart” it could save your life.

To find out more about “Sunsmart” please visit http://www.sunsmart.org.uk/

To follow Justine on Twitter, her username is @js5471

If you are worried about a mole or your skin, please do visit your GP as soon as you can.

xxxx

New Blogs to Read

One of my fellow Cancer Campaigns Ambassadors, Dan Woolf has started a blog of his own which will focus on the latest developments in cancer research. Dan is very intelligent and is very interested in cancer research. I have chatted with Dan on several occasions and is always sounds very passionate about cancer research and is able to explain very scientific things in a way that is easy to understand He is very interesting and has plenty of interesting facts and figures to share with us all so I highly recommend a trip to the site to have a read!

I’m really looking forward to reading your posts Dan!

http://www.woolfoncancer.com/

Whilst we are on the subject of blogs and my fellow ambassadors, the lovely Ashley Petrons has started a blog so we can keep up with her pledge to do one charitable thing per day for every day of this year! Ashley is very passionate about charity work and is lovely to talk to so I really do think we should all keep up with the interesting ways in which Ashley does charitable things daily. It is also a great way to get ideas on your own fundraising and charitable deeds!

I’m really looking forward to seeing what Ashley does next!

http://mycharitycase.org.uk/

Fundraising Friends

I am quite possibly the laziest person in the world and have nothing but respect for the incredible people who push their bodies into amazing challenges for charity. I have lots of friends currently training for events to raise money for various charities and would like to highlight them today, so if you are feeling generous, please do spare some pennies for these incredible worthwhile causes!

Luke Claxton – Luke is a fellow Chelsea FC fan as well as a hard working father and partner (he welcomed his second child into the world yesterday!) He and his partner Faye are incredible charitable people. Faye opens up her salon to treat CLIC Sargent youngsters to some pampering on regular occasions and the couple regularly do charity events for CLIC Sargent, including a very successful annual golf day which has raised several thousands of pounds in recent years. Luke is running the London Marathon on April 21^st in memory of his mum, Veronica, who sadly passed away from cancer a few years ago.

Not only is Luke incredibly charitable, he is also very supportive of my charity exploits too and it genuinely cheers me to know there are families such as the Claxton’s out there working hard to help others in someone’s memory.

To support Luke’s quest to run 26.2 miles for children with cancer please click: https://www.justgiving.com/runforclic/

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Danni Mannix – Danni is my fellow Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for Romford. I have been privileged enough to get to know her, firstly as mentor and mentoree, and now as friends. She is a wonderful, kind, intelligent and compassionate lady and the current Charity Face of Europe. Danni regularly does charity events of all different varieties and she has many passions, most of which include helping people in some way. She will also be running the London Marathon in memory of both her Mum and her Nan.

Having had many conversations with Danni, I know she is full of brilliant ideas of how to raise funds and awareness of many different issues and I really admire her enthusiasm and compassion for others. I’m very lucky to have met her!

To support Danni through her 26.2 miles for Cancer Research UK please click: https://www.justgiving.com/Danni-Mannix-London-Marathon/

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Gower Tan – Gower is another fellow Cancer Campaigns Ambassador for Cancer Research UK. Gower is a lovely man, very enthusiastic and very passionate about CRUK and their aims. He is very encouraging towards his fellow ambassadors and takes part in many of our lively discussions and events. Gower somehow manages to find time for his campaigning and fundraising despite having a very busy job and a family to look after so I take my hat off to him!

The fact that this will be Gower’s THIRD London Marathon is incredible; it exhausts me to even think of attempting a marathon let alone three! I think having the willpower to train is a incredible thing – I need to get some tips from him!

To support Gower as he attempts his hat trick of marathons in London please click: http://www.justgiving.com/gowertan2013

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Sue Duncombe – Sue is another of my fellow ambassadors. She is very passionate and enthusiastic as well as very supportive of everyone else and their achievements. I haven’t got to know Sue as much as I would like to and I’m hoping this will change over the coming months.

Sue is going to cycling from Marble Arch, London to the Arc de Triumph in Paris. This is a challenge that I couldn’t even imagine being able to complete! I have been reading about Sue’s incredible challeges for charity and I am in awe of her. She pushes herself to the limit and achieves incredible things. Three hundred miles on a bike for four days is a huge challenge and I really do think Sue is absolutely amazing for taking on such a challenge to raise money for CRUK.

To support Sue as she cycles her way to France please click: https://www.justgiving.com/SueDuncombe2013

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Nancy Scott – Nancy is a heroine of mine. A busy wife and mother with a job and she still manages to find time to be a fundraiser and awareness raising extraordinaire! I really admire her courage, her determination and her very creative mind. She is the mastermind behind Little Legs for Life and has raised huge amounts for CRUK and other charities over the years. She is also the reason I managed to almost complete the Shine marathon – I would have given up at mile ten if it wasn’t for her!

Nancy will be part of a group hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise money for Harry Moseley’s Help Harry Help Others charity. They will be attempting this in twelve hours and have been training hard for it. I am very confident that Nancy and her friends will complete this challenge with great gusto and look forward to hearing about their next challenge as they are always finding interesting ways of raising money for important causes.

To support Nancy and the Hike for Harry please click: http://www.justgiving.com/hikingforharry

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Rosa McPherson – I have mentioned the fabulous Rosa on this blog before. An incredible lady with a huge amount strength, humour, compassion and intelligence, she is also one of my heroes. She is another ambassador and she is a powerhouse of ideas and campaigning gusto. I love reading her posts and we share a love of The Sopranos amongst other things so she definitely has good taste!

Rosa will be doing the Stirling Race for Life in May this year to raise money for Cancer Research UK. She has been fundraising for a while and I am always struck by her fun way of thanking everyone for their donations.

To support Rosa as she shows support for CRUK in Scotland please click: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/rosamacpherson8?utm_source=DM&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2013_Wel

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The LWC Nurses – I love working for the LWC and get to work with some incredible people. Our wonderful nursing team are taking on the Blackheath Race for Life this year in honour of our colleague who is currently fighting cancer. The girls are determined, hard working ladies and I have no doubt that they will finish the course in one piece. They spend so much time looking after our patients and really deserve some support for this challenge.

To support the LWC nurses as they attempt 10k on a hot summer’s day please click: http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/rices-runners

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As you can see I have some incredible friends! I actually feel disgustingly lazy after writing this post, so much so that I have actually thrown my chocolate bar away and considered a visit to the gym tonight.

Times are hard and most of us are scrimping and saving at the moment but if you could show some support to any of these incredible people and the charities they support then your generosity will be gratefully received J xxx

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – Colonoscopy

As I have mentioned before, bowel cancer runs in the paternal side of my family. My dad has regular colonoscopies to check that he is ok and I am fast approaching the age where I will start having them too.

I have decided to try and break down some of the stigma attached to colonoscopies by researching them. A colonoscopy isn't appropriate for everyone but I hope this blog post persuades people to have them should they need to as it is the most effective way of diagnosing bowel cancer, as well as the presence of any bowel polyps, and as I like to drum into your heads, EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS KEY!

A colonoscopy is usually performed in the outpatients department of a hospital and the procedure itself usually lasts around an hour. The bowel needs to be completely empty for the colonoscopy so the patient will need to follow a very careful diet for a few days before the test. Laxatives may also be needed and may be prescribed. The department carrying out the procedure will give you careful instructions regarding your diet and laxatives.

It may be possible for you to have a sedative to relax you a little before the procedure. You will be told to lie on your side whilst the nurse or doctor passes a thin flexible tube called a colonoscope into your back passage. There are flexible fibres in the tube which pass around the bowel easily. There is a light and camera on the end of the tube and these show any abnormal areas of the bowel.

It may be that photographs and biopsies of the cells in the large bowel are taken during the colonoscopy. Usually any polyps can be removed using a wire loop that is passed through the colonoscope. This can be done painlessly normally.

Sometimes the whole bowel can’t be seen during the colonoscopy. This may be due to the bowel not being completely empty or because the colonoscopy can’t get round a bend in the bowel or reach the end of t. You may be asked to have a repeat or a CT colonoscopy in this situation.

A COLONOSCOPY CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT A SEDATIVE WILL HELP YOU RELAX.

Most patients are ready to go home within a few hours of the test but someone will need to come and collect you, especially if you have had a sedative. Someone should be around to keep an eye on you for around twelve hours after the procedure.

 Potential Complications:

Usually a colonscopy is a fairly straightforward procedure and patients do not have any side effects. However, very rare side effects do include:

*Fluid Loss – Taking laxatives may cause you to lose lots of fluids as you are visiting the toilet frequently. It is important to let the people carrying out your colonoscopy know if you have any heart problems before taking laxatives as this can worsen your condition.

*Breathing or Heart Problems – You may have a reaction to the laxatives which may cause you to have temporary problems breathing or temporary problems with your heart.

*Heavy Bleeding – Around 1/150 people having a colonoscopy suffer from heavy bleeding after the procedure. If biopsies are taken or polyps are removed then there is a chance of bleeding. If you do notice heavy bleeding then you should seek medical advice immediately.

*Perforated Bowel – The colonoscopy can VERY RARELY make a hole in the bowel wall. This happens about 1/1000 but an operation may need needed to mend the hole.

*Death – Around 1/10,000 people having a colonscopy die as a result. A very very small percentage of those having the procedure.

Results:

The specialist performing your colonoscopy will let you know if they take any biopsies or remove any polyps during your procedure. The results of these can take up to three weeks, which can be a very anxious time for you.

Possible results include:

*A Normal Result – this means no polyps or cancerous cells were found in your bowel. About 50% of colonoscopies have a normal result and it is rare that a colonoscopy will miss cancer. If your result is normal then you will probably be offered screening every two years.

*Benign Polyps – If one or more polyps are found during the procedure then they are usually all removed at the same time in a procedure known as a polypectomy. This can help prevent bowel cancer developing. Around 40% of people having colonoscopies following an abnormal FOB test have polyps  The removed polyps are studied in a lab and the next steps are determined by the results. Polyps can sometimes reoccur after being removed.

*Cancer – Around 10% of people having colonoscopies after an abnormal FOB test are diagnosed with bowel cancer. That is 1/10. If the cancer is found at an early stage then there is a very good chance of survival as around 90% of early stage bowel cancer cases are successfully treated.

*Other Benign Causes – Colonoscopies can also indicate other conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and you are usually referred to a gastroenterologist.

I hope this post has been informative for you and I hope it persuades at least one person to go and get a colonoscopy. Surely a few hours of discomfort is fair better then a potential battle with cancer?

xxx

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

So April is upon us already. Time is passing by like crazy at the moment. I apologise for the lack of blog posts recently, time seems to escape from me! April is a crazy month for me but I have built up a backlog of posts to ensure I post more this month!

April is also Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in the UK. Bowel cancer runs in my family and my paternal aunt, Eleni and paternal uncle/Godfather, Sotiris both passed away after suffering from colon cancer, which is a variation of cancer of the bowel. In a few years time I will be old enough to follow in my dad’s footsteps and have regular colonoscopies to ensure I catch anything early.

This post is dedicated to my aunt and uncle as well as my dad who has had to find a way to live without his big brother and little sister. I am going to try and raise some awareness of cancer of the bowel and some charities you should keep an eye out for this month.

What is the Bowel?
The bowel is divided into the small bowel (small intestine) and the large bowel (colon and rectum). It is part of our digestive system:
* Food passes from the stomach to the small bowel.
* The small bowel takes nutrients  into our body 
* Any undigested food passes through the large bowel
* Water is then removed from the waste matter
* The waste matter is then held in the rectum (back passage) until it leaves the body as bowel motions (stools or faeces)


What is Bowel Cancer?
* Cancer occurs when the cells in your bowel multiply out of control. 
* These cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
* Nearly all bowel cancers develop in the large bowel. Two thirds are in the colon and one third in the rectum.
* Bowel cancer is also referred to as colorectal, colon or rectal cancer.
* Cancer of the small bowel is rare - just over 700 people a year are diagnosed in the UK.


Bowel Cancer and Gender:
* Nearly 40,000 men and women are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year.
* Bowel cancer is the UK's second biggest cancer killer
* More then 16,250 people dies each year from it (this equals one person every thirty minutes)
* Bowel cancer is highly treatable if diagnosed in the early stages.


Bowel Cancer Symptoms:
You may experience one, some or all of these symptoms or none at all. It is important to know your body and your bowel habits and visit your GP as soon as you feel something is up. Early diagnosis is key to having the best shot at survival.
* Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
* A change in bowel habit that lasts longer then three weeks (especially looser or runny poo)
* Unexplained weight loss
* Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
* A pain or lump in your tummy


How is Bowel Cancer Diagnosed?
* The process begins with you seeing your GP and discussing your symptoms. You will be asked about your bowel habits and pattern. It is hugely important to describe what is normal and abnormal for you. Also, remember to mention any significant family history. Do not be embarrassed; your doctor is a medical professional who has seen and heard it all. Discussing your poo may be awkward but it could also save your life.
* Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may want to feel your abdomen and examine your back passage with a digital rectal examination. This entails your doctor placing a gloved finger into your back passage and feeling for any lumps or swelling. This can be uncomfortable but not painful.
* You may be asked to give a stool (poo) sample so it can be tested for blood. This is because polyps (small growths within the bowel) could turn cancerous and tumours often bleed.
*You may also need a blood test to check for anaemia
* If your doctor believes your symptoms are being caused by cancer, they will refer your to a hospital specialist. You should be seen within two weeks and sent for further tests. These tests could be a colonoscopy (examination of your rectum and colon) or a flexible sigmoidoscopy (examination of the rectum and lower part of the colon)


Is a Colonoscopy Painful?
* You will made comfortable on a couch or bed and a nurse will stay with you throughout the test.
* You may also be given light sedation which will help you relax
* The doctor or nurse will gently pass a long flexible tube, that has a light and camera on the end, into your back passage and then into your bowel.
* Air will be passed through the tube to distend the bowel and give a clearer view of the lining. This may give you wind like pains but they won't last long.
* After the test you will be left to rest for around thirty minutes. You may feel a little bloated but this will settle quickly.
* You will need someone to come and collect you, especially if you were sedated.


What Does Treatment for Bowel Cancer Involve?
* The treatments for colon and rectal cancer are different. There will be many options to consider. Your specialist nurse or consultant will discuss them with you.
* Cancer in the Colon: The most common form of treatment is surgery. This could be open or keyhole. If surgery isn't available you may be offered chemo first but this is rare. Chemo can be recommended after surgery, unless the cancer was caught in the very early stages.
* Cancer in the Rectum: Usually treatment will involve a short course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (known as chemoradiation) then surgery and then possible more chemo.


Minimising your Bowel Cancer Risk:
The exact cause of bowel cancer is unknown. However there are certain factors that can increase your risk:
* Consider your diet (read my healthy eating post!)
* Keep active with regular exercise
* Keep hydrated and limit your alcohol intake
* Avoid smoking
* Take part in bowel cancer screening programmes if and when invited

Bowel Cancer UK (www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk)
* Bowel Cancer UK aim to save lives by raising awareness or bowel cancer, campaigning for the best treatments and care, and providing practical support and advice.
* If people have any questions about bowel cancer; whether they or a loved one have been diagnosed, we are here to help. Nurses are available from Monday to Friday, 10am -4pm. You can contact them on 0800 840 3540 or on support@bowelcanceruk.org.uk
* We work closely with the NHS and Department of Health. Most recently we liaised with the Department of Health to produce a resource pack for GP's as part of the "Be Clear on Cancer" campaign.
* We also proactively campaign to ensure that irrespective of where they live in the UK, patients have access to the very best treatment and care.

Beating Bowel Cancer (www.beatingbowelcancer.org)

Beating Bowel Cancer formed in 1999 (incidentally the same year my auntie Eleni passed away from bowel cancer) and has been working hard to raise awareness of the second biggest cancer killer in the UK as well as promote early diagnosis and help as many people as possible have access to the best treatments. Beating Bowel Cancer has a very clear vision – “A World Where Bowel Cancer Is Beaten” and their mission is also very clear – “Beating Bowel Cancer Together”. The charity sticks to four key values:  being supportive, being inspiring, being trustworthy and being dedicated. The charity works with individuals, communities, medical professionals and the government to improve early diagnosis rates, to improve public awareness of this cancer type.

Please do keep an eye out for the symptoms of bowel cancer. They can be seen as embarrassing but I assure you, your GP will have seen and heard far worse. Get yourself checked out should you be worried about anything you have read in this post today and check out the chartities above as they will be working very hard to raise awareness of bowel cancer.

xxx