Be alert to these cancer symptoms

A Be Clear On Cancer campaign has been launched across Bedfordshire and Luton to raise awareness of the symptoms.

In 2008 151 people in Central Beds were diagnosed with bowel cancer and 55 people in the county died of it in the same year.

The key symptoms are blood in poo for three weeks or more or looser poo for the same time frame. Other symptoms include a pain or lump in your tummy, feeling very tired and unexplained weight loss.

Muriel Scott, NHS Bedfordshire director of public health, said: “I would urge anyone who is worried about their symptoms to speak to their GP straight away.

“The earlier bowel cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. Your symptoms may be nothing serious but it is better to have them checked out early to be sure.”