Bowel cancer projects

• Bowel cancer statistics

For information on bowel cancer incidence, survival, mortality and risk factors, visit Cancer Research UK's CancerStats. 

• Bowel cancer signs and symptoms

NHS Choices' bowel cancer key messages give the top line on signs and symptoms to look out for. There's also information about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer here.

National campaign

Following the successful piloting of a regional bowel cancer awareness campaign ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ in the East and South West of England earlier this year, the Government has announced a national roll out. In January 2012, a national campaign will run across England which will feature real GPs encouraging patients to talk to them about changes in their poo. The campaign aims to make people aware of the early signs of bowel cancer and give them confidence to discuss this with their GP. You can read more here.

West of Scotland Cancer Awareness Project - Bowel cancer campaign

In 2002, the award-winning West of Scotland Cancer Awareness Project was granted £1.3 million by the Big Lottery Fund to develop 2 public awareness campaigns to encourage the ‘at risk’ population to present earlier to the NHS with signs and symptoms of mouth and bowel cancer. £469,109 was allocated to the bowel project. 

Download the WoSCAP bowel cancer campaign case study presentation featuring:

• Details of scoping activities
• Insights into public bowel cancer awareness
• Intervention strategy and development
• Pictures of the leaflets and photos from the project exhibition
• Top line results and lessons learned

The final WoSCAP report is also available. 

NHS Derby City/Cancer Research UK bowel cancer campaign 

The project aimed to raise awareness of the early detection of bowel cancer, and encourage presentation with any signs or symptoms to a GP. It took place in seven wards in Derby City in February and March 2010. 

You can download the evaluation presentation from the campaign here.

Insight

When developing the campaign, both Cancer Research UK and Corporate Culture, the social marketing agency, were mindful of the information that already existed on awareness of signs and symptoms and barriers to early presentation. So as to build on this rather than replicate it through more in-depth qualitative research, which would be unlikely to raise anything new, Corporate Culture undertook a Behaviour and Motivation (BAM) analysis based on existing research and insight.

BAM analysis provides:

1. 1. A snap shot summary of the key benefits and barriers to the behaviour sought (i.e. early presentation), as well as any key benefits and barriers of the competing behaviour (i.e. don't present)
   2. An articulation, based on 1), of the core motivators that can be drawn on to drive action

Download the findings from the BAM analysis.

Materials

You can view a slideshow of the resources used in the Derby campaign here.

For information about engaging with other charities and organisations click here.

This page contains links to documents and sources of information that we hope you will find useful. Please note however that the views or opinions expressed within those links are not necessarily those of Cancer Research UK.