Matt Dawson launches new bowel cancer campaign

Matt Dawson, Kriss Akabusi and Norgine, a leading European specialist pharmaceutical company, have teamed up with charity Bowel Cancer UK to announce the launch of Stay on Track, an initiative aimed at improving levels of public understanding of bowel cancer and the importance of testing and early diagnosis.

Based on the new Stay on Track survey, conducted amongst 2,045 adults aged 18+ in the UK, despite 81% knowing that bleeding from their bottom/blood in their poo was a symptom of bowel cancer, 33% would not go to their GP straight away if they noticed this symptom themselves.1 Only 65% of people surveyed knew that a persistent change in bowel habit could be a sign of bowel cancer (58% of men compared to 73% of women). Also, only 48% and 36% knew that pain or lump in your tummy and extreme tiredness or fatigue respectively could be symptoms of bowel cancer. Knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer can save lives due to earlier diagnosis and compare with other cancers, bowel cancer patients benefit the most from earlier diagnosis in terms of survival.

Aston spoke to Matt Dawson MBE, England Rugby World Cup winning player, current captain on BBC’s Question of Sport, 2006 Celebrity Masterchef winner, 2006 BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing runner up and Beating Bowel Cancer patron to discuss about the new bowel cancer campaign in further details.