Soldiers are being urged to check for any dramas in their downstairs region amid warnings from health professionals that bowel cancer cases may be increasing in younger people.
It’s recommended that everyone keeps tabs on any changes in their toilet habits – while looking out for symptoms such as blood in poo, tummy pain, feeling tired and losing weight.
The latest call to arms comes because it is Bowel Cancer Awareness month.
While more likely to strike in later life, stats show that 2,600 people under 50 are among the 44,000 annually diagnosed.
Lisa Wilde, research and policy boss at charity Bowel Cancer UK, said there “was a growing body of evidence” to suggest that the disease was becoming more common in younger people.
While further research is needed to find out why, it is crucial to get checked out if you have a change in toilet habits.
Soldier writer Cliff Caswell – who had surgery and chemo for stage three bowel cancer aged 46 in 2019 – said: “Looking back I had the classic symptoms – I should have acted sooner.
“Don’t be embarrassed and be totally honest – in short, bite the bullet, sort it out and tell your MO because this stuff is treatable and even more so if you get to it earlier on.”
