ROADSHOWS are being set up in Barrow to make people aware of the dangers of bowel cancer.

April marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and three pop-up stations are being set up in Barrow to advise members of the public how to spot the symptoms.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, which runs Furness General Hospital, wants to encourage early diagnosis.

Each session will run from 10am to 2pm and will be held at Morrisons on Tuesday April 12, Tesco Extra in Hindpool Road on Wednesday April 20 and Asda on Wednesday April 27.

Sue Smith, executive chief nurse at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It is important for the trust to support Bowel Cancer Awareness month because so many people are affected by the condition.

"It is vital that the public know how to identify the condition and what support is out there for them."

Screening

Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel.

Around 40,000 new cases are diagnosed every year and roughly one in every 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their life.

Early diagnosis is crucial and patients should see their GP in the first instance and they can then be referred to the Cumbria and Morecambe Bay Bowel Cancer Screening Centre.

The centre, which is based at Westmorland General Hospital  and Cumberland Infirmary, has screened more than 250,00 people since it opened in 2008, detecting 429 bowel cancer cases and removing polyps, abnormal tissue growths, in 1,162 people.

Some symptoms

- Persistent change in bowel habit, especially going to the toilet more often or diarrhea for several weeks.

- Blood in the stools without other haemorrhoid symptoms.

- Abdominal pain.

- A lump in the abdomen.

- Bloating or weight loss.

Increased risk

- Almost nine in 10 cases of bowel cancer occur in people aged 60 or over

- Overweight and inactive people are more likely to develop bowel cancer.

- High alcohol intake and smoking.

- Having a close relative who developed bowel cancer under the age of 50 puts a person at a greater risk.

Full roadshow schedule

- 10am to 2pm Tuesday April 12 - Morrisons, Barrow.

- 10am to 2pm Wednesday April 13 - Tesco, Carnforth.

- 9am to noon Sunday April 17 - Kendal Colour Run at Kirkbie Kendal School.

- 10am to 2pm Wednesday April 20 - Tesco Extra, Barrow.

- 10am to 2pm Wednesday April 27 at Asda, Barrow.