This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Nicola is sharing her bowel cancer story to help spread the word about symptoms.

Nicola was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and has since had surgery to remove it. Fortunately for her, and her family, it was found before it had spread.

But if Nicola hadn't known that her symptoms could be serious she might never have gone to her GP for tests. And if she hadn't later watched Emmerdale and seen a bowel cancer storyline unfold, she might never have followed up with the hospital to get that diagnosis.

Our research shows that more than four in 10 people living in the UK are not aware of any bowel cancer symptoms. And the pandemic has only made the situation worse. Many people haven't been going to their GP because of worries about coronavirus. In fact, research shows that during the height of the pandemic there were more than 3,500 people who should have been diagnosed but haven't been.

Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer. Knowing the symptoms and acting on them really does save lives. So, this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month we're urgently asking you to join with us by making a donation to help spread the word, and save lives.

A donation of just £25 could help us teach five people about bowel cancer symptoms

A donation of £100 could help fund training for health professionals in early diagnosis

A donation of £167 could fund one of our online awareness talks giving detailed information about symptoms and risk factors for bowel cancer

Your donation today could give someone the information and encouragement they need to go to their GP, increasing their chances of an early diagnosis.

Together we can save the lives of more people like Nicola.