Chloe calls for constituents to 'Spot the Symptoms'

Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, will tomorrow be supporting National ‘Spot the Symptoms Day.' The day, organised and promoted by Lynn's Bowel Cancer Campaign, aims to increase awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms.

Each year approximately 38,000 men and women in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer and over 16,000 people will die from the disease- an average of 48 people every day. Bowel cancer is highly treatable if caught early and over 90% of bowel cancer patients will survive the disease for more than five years if diagnosed at the earliest stage.

Commenting on the day Chloe Smith said:

"It is predicted that within the Anglia Cancer Network, which encompasses most of the Eastern Region, around 45.5 per 100,000 people will be diagnosed per year. Awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms is therefore critical in order to identify and diagnose it in its early stages.

"I very much welcome the recent announcement by the Prime Minister in which he pledged that £10.75 million would be spent on a signs and symptoms campaign focused on breast, lung and bowel cancer. A full national campaign could mean up to 500 people diagnosed earlier with bowel cancer.

"But there is still much more to be done and I would call on constituents to check and be aware of the symptoms."