Men are over 35% more likely than women to be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime so it’s vital that they can recognise the symptoms, says charity Beating Bowel Cancer.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK but the second biggest cancer killer. It counts for 10% of all male cancer deaths in the UK.

The charity says that if statistics are to improve it’s vital that men become more aware of the symptoms and go to their GP as soon as they notice them. It could save their lives.

Beating Bowel Cancer has recently launched their annual Decembeard campaign, which asks men to grow a beard throughout the month of December to take on bowel cancer.

By signing up, you help to raise awareness of the disease in men, get them talking openly about it and raising funds for the charity, who offer support to all those affected by the disease. Visit www.decembeard.org for more details. 

For more information about bowel cancer, visit beatingbowelcancer.org.