Talk about your poo, says health minister

Cancer experts believe that late diagnosis is one of the main reasons survival rates for a range of cancers are worse in Britain than many other European countries.

One of the first warning signs for bowel cancer can be changes to the look and texture of “poo”, as the campaign calls it.

Television and radio advertisements will feature “real GPs encouraging patients to talk to them about changes in their poo”, according to the Department of Health.

The campaign is being piloted for seven weeks in two areas, the east of England and the south west, at a cost of £1.75 million. If successful it will be rolled out nationwide.

Primary care trusts are also being given £9 million towards 59 local campaigns highlighting symptoms of bowel, breast and lung cancer.

Sarah Lyness, executive director of communications and information at Cancer Research, said: “We welcome this campaign because spotting cancer early saves lives. Most changes in bowel habits probably won’t be cancer but if they are it is much better to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.

“So if people notice a change that lasts three weeks or more – whether it’s looser poo, bleeding or anything else that is unusual for them – they should report the symptoms to their doctor without further delay.”

Mark Flannagan, chief executive of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer, said the campaign “has the potential to save thousands of lives”.