Ignorance is not bliss about signs of cancer

Awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer remains low in the UK, with few people knowing what they should watch out for, a study shows.

Despite the fact that the disease is the third most common cancer in the UK and second largest cause of cancer deaths each year, the Cancer Research UK study also found that the public were unaware that lifestyle factors, such as diet, weight and exercise, could affect their risk.

Each year in Scotland almost 4,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 1,500 die from the disease.

The new survey of 1,500 Britons found that, on average, the public could name just one symptom of bowel cancer and one risk factor.

The researchers said there was particularly low awareness of lumps in the abdomen and tiredness as symptoms – both of which could indicate a cancer is present in the bowel.

Although people from a non-white ethnic background tend to have a lower risk of developing bowel cancer, the study said this group had less knowledge about the symptoms.

The researchers said the westernisation of diets, such as eating more red meat and dairy products – both linked with increased bowel cancer risk – meant that raising awareness among these groups was vital.