Teaming Up With Toilet Paper To Take On Bowel Cancer
- Podcaster Deborah James is expanding her bowel cancer awareness campaign by teaming up with a grocery chain to add the signs and symptoms of the disease to toilet paper packaging.
- James, who has been battling bowel cancer since 2015, has dubbed herself the ‘Bowel Babe.’
- Bowel cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is most frequently diagnosed in people over the age of 60.
- Depending on where cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer.
- Symptoms of bowel cancer can include changes to your stool size, consistency or color, abdominal paid, sudden and unexplained weight loss and anemia.
Deborah James, 40, a married mom with two young kids, told The Sun she was “so proud” of partnering with British retailer Tesco for a new bowel cancer awareness campaign.
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The special packages of toilet paper will hit shelves in July.
Already, toilet paper manufacturer Andrex has said it would put bowel cancer symptoms on its packaging.
The idea for the informative packaging came to James, a British TV personality and podcaster who is currently battling bowel cancer, because she was “bored of puppies” on toilet paper. Several British brands have since signed onto the campaign.
So far, James’ foundation has raised $8.2 million (£6.7 million) to fund clinical research into the disease, and the fund is swelling rapidly with small donations from fans and supporters who have been inspired by James’ courage.
Understanding the Function of the Colon and the Rectum
A Little Help From Her Friends
Her message is getting wide support from some famous friends. On Monday, Kim Murray, 34, wife of tennis superstar Andy Murray, 35, was spotted in the seats of Wimbledon, sporting a ‘Rebellious Hope’ t-shirt as she cheered her tennis playing husband Andy on.
The brand was founded by James in collaboration with retailer In The Style as a fundraising initiative.
James, 40, was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2016 and has been sharing her story ever since. She’s so committed to raising awareness that she rebranded her social media as Bowel Babe.
Earlier this month, James announced she would no longer be receiving treatment and, instead, is receiving palliative care. She said she wants to focus her remaining time and energy into her campaign to save others.
Learning About Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel, says the National Health Service. Depending on where cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer.
In the UK, where James lives, bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed. It typically presents in people over the age of 60. And in the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women, excluding skin cancers.
Symptoms of colon cancer
Dr. Paul Oberstein, director of the Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Program at NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet a few common symptoms of the disease to look out for:
- Change in bowel movements — sudden changes to the size, consistency or caliber of stool
- Change in stool color — bright red or black stool is a sign that an individual should seek medical attention
- Pain in the abdomen — unusual discomfort or bloating of the stomach. In the case of women, pain isn’t related to the menstrual cycle.
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss — rapid drop in weight that isn’t the result of diet or exercise
- Anemia — Individuals who feel a general sense of malaise or faintness, or are constantly tired or weak much more than usual, may want to consult a doctor.
Many symptoms of bowel cancer are similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome, so make sure to consult with your doctor.
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