Tune in to warnings about bowel cancer, whatever your age – that’s the stark message from two people who have experienced the disease in the East of England; one diagnosed in her early 20s, the other in his 60s.

Actor Holly Masters, from Cambridgeshire, was told she had bowel cancer at the age of just 23 after her symptoms led her to A&E, while retired civil servant Ray Anderson, from Hertfordshire, had no symptoms at all when his cancer was detected by routine screening when he was 61.

Holly and Ray have been recorded in conversation for this YouTube clip about their very different experiences, as part of this month’s Bowel Cancer Awareness campaign.

Across the East of England, GP referrals for bowel cancer have grown to around 3,560 a month – that’s up by almost 30 per cent in the last year, compared to the same period pre-pandemic. Ninety-six per cent are given the all clear, but around 90 people a week receive a bowel cancer diagnosis in one of the region’s hospitals.

In the video chat, Holly says:

“I had no idea I had cancer until I went to A&E. I knew something wasn’t right with my body and I’d been to my GP but because of my age they didn’t suspect it was bowel cancer.”

Holly’s key message for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is: “It can happen at any age. If you know something isn’t right, don’t let anything stop you from getting it checked.”

Ray’s message strongly encourages people to take up bowel screening, using the simple FIT test sent to eligible age groups directly by post.

Ray had no symptoms but the test led to a cancer diagnosis. He had treatment and has been cancer free for 13 years. In the video, he says:

“My cancer was picked up through the bowel cancer screening programme. The test kit comes through the post and it is very easy to use.

“A prime purpose of the screening programme is to let the vast majority of people know that they don’t have cancer. That is what everybody would want to know.”

Holly and Ray co-chair the East of England Cancer Alliances Patient Partnership Group, which meets regularly to ensure that the views and expertise of patients and their families or carers are at the heart of cancer service transformation in the region.

GP Dr Peter Holloway chairs the East of England Cancer Alliances’ Primary Care Group. He said:

“It is fantastic to see Holly and Ray in conversation as they demonstrate so well that bowel cancer is something everyone needs to be aware of, whatever their age.

“We know that people can be reluctant to talk about their bowel habits, but I can assure people that GPs want to hear from anyone who is concerned.

“We also want everyone to know the symptoms and make sure their families and friends are aware too. I hope that Holly and Ray’s conversation will get more people talking.”

The “red flag” symptoms of bowel cancer, set out by Bowel Cancer UK are:

• 1. Bleeding from bottom and/or blood in poo
  2. A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
  3. Unexplained weight loss
  4. Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
  5. A pain or lump in tummy area

Most people with these symptoms won’t have bowel cancer, but if you experience one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, contact your GP straight away.

If bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, stage one, 91% of bowel cancer patients will survive for five years or more. This drops to 8% of patients surviving for five years or more when diagnosed at the latest stage, stage four.

Key facts from Bowel Cancer UK:

• Every 15 minutes somebody is diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK; that’s nearly 43,000 people each year.
• It’s the UK’s fourth most common cancer
• Bowel cancer is more common in the over 50s but it can affect people of all ages
• Every 30 minutes somebody dies of bowel cancer in the UK. It’s the UK’s second biggest cancer killer.

Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage. However, this drops significantly as the disease develops. Early diagnosis saves lives.