HEALTH experts at Yeovil District Hospital are this week urging people not to be embarrassed talking to their GP about the symptoms of bowel cancer (written by Steve Sowden).

Yeovil Hospital's medical director, Dr Jonathan Sheffield, has a particular interest in the subject and is a member of the Department of Health's bowel cancer policy group.

"Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK," he said. "Far too many people are put off discussing their symptoms with their GP, simply because they are too embarrassed to say the words, or are scared of what sorts of questions they will be asked.

"Yet finding bowel cancer early will result in cure. In the UK there are nearly 30,000 new cases per year many of which are found late because people ignore the symptoms."

Yeovil Hospital has an international reputation for its pioneering work on keyhole surgery for bowel cancer. It is a ground-breaking programme which also allows patients to recover much more quickly from surgery and is led by specialist consultant surgeon Robin Kennedy.

The hospital aims to see patients with suspected bowel cancer within two weeks of a referral by their GP and to operate within two months. Last year there were over 600 such referrals of which nearly 100 were found to be cancer.

The hospital has an advanced endoscopy service, led by Dr Steve Gore, where patients are sent for diagnosis using a flexible optical tube with an attached video camera . There is also a multi-disciplinary Team specialising in bowel cancer.

Yeovil Hospital staff were throwing their weight behind Loud Tie Day yesterday (Wednesday) in a dazzling show of support for the national charity Beating Bowel Cancer.

Top consultants, doctors, nurses, volunteers, and even members of the Trust Board who had their monthly meeting the same day, ditched their usual good dress sense in favour of neon neckwear to raise funds for the charity's Loud Tie Day campaign, which ends tomorrow. The initiative coincides with the launch of a new patient information booklet called Lifting the Lid on Bowel Cancer.

Dr Sheffield added: "I am delighted that staff and board members are so supportive of this very worthwhile cause. I hope that everyone, including patients, enjoyed seeing Yeovil Hospital lit up by this campaign."

Chairman of East Somerset NHS Trust, Angela Dupont, said: "We were delighted to support this event because it raises the profile of a hugely important cause. It also shows that our staff and volunteers are caring and ready to pull together for a bit of fun."

And she joked: "It certainly brightened up our Board meeting!"

For more information, or copies of the leaflet, Lifting The Lid on Bowel Cancer, contact Beating Bowel Cancer on 020 8892 5256, or see the charity's website at www.beatingbowelcancer.org