By Robin Scott
Wythenshawe hospital is leading the way in the battle against cancer and other diseases by educating members of public in important health issues.
Last Wednesday Aswatha Ramesh, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, and Helen Ashby, Colorectal Nurse Specialist, delivered a seminar on colorectal cancer at the hospital’s education centre.
Also known as bowel, rectal or colon cancer, colorectal cancer kills nearly 600,000 people worldwide every year.
It’s the UK’s second most common cancer in women after breast cancer and the third most common cancer in men after prostate and lung cancer with 100 new cases diagnosed daily.
Mr Ramesh suggested that the key to successful treatment lay in early detection of the disease.
He said: “Estimates suggest that nine out of 10 cases can be successfully treated if detected early and survival rates have doubled over the past 30 years because of early diagnosis.”
The talk covered incidence, risk factors, screening, diagnosis and treatment and the support available to patients.
Professor Mike Richards CBE, National Clinical Director for Cancer and End of Life Care, offered his backing to the seminar.
He told MM: “I am strongly supportive of measures to raise awareness of bowel cancer.”
Health Matters is a series of monthly seminars delivered by the hospital and led by clinical experts.
Members of the public, patients and staff are all welcome to attend and no prior knowledge is required.
The programme has covered topics including health outcomes for adult cardiac patients, breast cancer, dementia, cardiovascular risk and cholesterol and even plastic surgery.
The next seminar is April 20: Upper GI cancer and will be held from midday in the education centre of Wythenshawe Hospital.
For further information contact 0161 291 2357.
