WORCESTERSHIRE sales director Simon James started feeling ill in 2012 but put it down to stress after changing jobs and getting married.

The 41-year-old from Severn Stoke near Kempsey started going to the gym but soon realised he wasn’t getting any fitter and was losing weight, so he went to his doctor.

Following tests, a tumour was discovered and he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He had surgery and, because the condition was caught early, no chemotherapy was required.

Simon is now helping to promote awareness of bowel cancer and supporting the national Lift The Lid Day on Wednesday April 22. April is bowel cancer awareness month.

Simon, who is now back at work, says: “Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer so it’s essential that we talk about the disease and its symptoms so more people know what to look out for and are not too embarrassed to go to the GP about them.

“I’m supporting the Lift the Lid campaign and spreading the word because I know from experience how important it is to be aware of the symptoms and to get checked out as soon as possible.”

Statistics show nine out of 10 bowel cancer patients will survive more than five years if bowel cancer is diagnosed early.

Chief executive of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer Mark Flannagan, said: “One in four of us are affected by bowel cancer in some way, either directly or through family members and friends. Yet it’s rarely talked about because people are often too embarrassed to discuss the disease and its symptoms.

“As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this April, we hope people in the local area will join Simon in supporting Lift the Lid Day and helping to raise greater awareness so people can get diagnosed earlier.”

He said people can support the campaign simply by talking about bowel cancer – whether it is a chat over coffee about their experience of the disease, encouraging someone to go online and learn about the symptoms or supporting someone who is worried about the disease to contact their doctor or the Beating Bowel Cancer helpline.

For more information about bowel cancer and the Lift The Lid campaign visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org or ring the helpline on 020 8973 0011.

Simon added: “Someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes and it claims a life every half an hour. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Early diagnosis saves lives so please help us to raise the profile of the disease and its symptoms in order to improve survival rates.”

• Each year around 16,000 people die of bowel cancer. It is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer and every half an hour someone dies of the disease

• In the UK around 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. It is the fourth most common cancer in the UK

• Around 110 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day – that is someone every 15 minutes

• Bowel cancer affects both men and women

• If diagnosed early, more than 90per cent of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully

• The majority (95per cent) of bowel cancer cases occur in people over 50, but it can affect anyone of any age

Symptoms

Anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms for three weeks or more should go and see their GP:

• Bleeding from the bottom or blood in stools

• A persistent change in bowel habit, especially going more often or looser stools

• Abdominal pain, especially if severe

• A lump in the tummy

• Unexplained weight loss or tiredness