NHS tummy troubles awareness campaign

As part of the ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign, NHS England is raising awareness of cancers in the abdominal area and urological cancers.

It is encouraging anyone who has had tummy troubles such as discomfort or diarrhoea for three weeks or more, or seen blood in their pee – even just once, to contact their GP practice.

Persistent tummy troubles can be a sign of a number of cancers, including bowel, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, and blood in pee – even just once, can be a sign of urological cancers, including bladder or kidney cancer.

The number of people being sent for urgent cancer checks by their GP has been at record levels since March 2021, but people who are suffering with abdominal or urological symptoms may be reluctant to visit their GP. They may be embarrassed about their symptoms, concerned that they might be wasting their doctor’s time, or they may just put their symptoms down to getting older.

While it’s probably nothing serious, any of these symptoms could be a sign of something that needs treatment. If it is cancer, finding it early makes it more treatable and can save lives.

The campaign is running in England across TV, radio, PR, partnerships, and social media. There is activity targeted to ethnic minority audiences including Black and South Asian communities, and engagement with disability organisations to reach excluded disabled audiences with alternative formats available for partners.

Visit nhs.uk/cancersymptoms for more information.