A Birmingham father who was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer after dismissing his extreme tiredness as a busy life is urging others to seek help early, supporting a new programme aimed at earlier diagnosis.
Rob Parnham, 42, was diagnosed in March 2024 after initially attributing his fatigue to juggling construction work, exercise, and family life. He is backing the Bowel Cancer UK Early Diagnosis Programme in Birmingham, which seeks to reduce delays in seeking medical advice.
Shocking Statistics on Delayed Help-Seeking
Research by YouGov, commissioned by Bowel Cancer UK, reveals that in Birmingham, over eight in ten (83%) people would not seek help straight away if they noticed a persistent change in bowel habits. More than a third (35%) would delay help for blood in their stool, and over a quarter (28%) would delay for bleeding from the bottom.
Embarrassment, fear of cancer, and concerns about wasting the doctor's time are cited as key barriers.
Rob's Story: From Fatigue to Diagnosis
After visiting his GP, Rob was found to be anaemic and tested positive for blood in his stools via an at-home test. Further investigations revealed an 8cm tumour in his bowel.
Rob said: “At first, I didn't think my symptoms were anything out of the ordinary. I was feeling extremely tired, but I just thought this was down to a busy life. Being diagnosed with bowel cancer came as a massive shock. The big message from me is making sure that everyone understands the symptoms so they can get diagnosed at an early stage. Working in the construction industry, I know a lot of my colleagues may not want to talk about these things. I want to encourage people not to be embarrassed about speaking to their GP. We only have one chance in life, and we need to grab that chance and live it to the full, and thankfully I still have this opportunity.”
New Programme to Tackle Barriers
The 12-month Early Diagnosis Programme, funded by the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK and partnered with NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB and West Midlands Cancer Alliance, combines community awareness activities with healthcare professional support. It includes community events, social group outreach, an advertising campaign, and engagement with healthcare professionals.
Andy Glyde, Strategy, Impact and Insight Lead at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Our research suggests that many people in Birmingham are aware of some of the symptoms of bowel cancer, but it is concerning that so many would not seek help from a health professional straight away if they experienced them. Earlier diagnosis saves lives and can make a significant difference to treatment options and outcomes, which is why it is so important to take symptoms seriously and contact your GP if something doesn't look or feel right. Through our Early Diagnosis Programme, we are working directly with communities and local healthcare partners to encourage people to recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer and feel confident seeking medical advice promptly. We want more people in Birmingham to be diagnosed earlier, when bowel cancer is more treatable and outcomes are better.”
NHS Support and Community Impact
Ian Sharp, Medical Advisor at NHS Birmingham and Solihull and NHS Black Country, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be working with Bowel Cancer UK on this programme, which we hope will encourage more of our population to complete routine screenings and seek medical attention when needed, ultimately leading to earlier diagnosis of cancers including bowel. By taking the right steps to spot cancer as early as possible, we can ensure patients live healthier, happier and longer lives. Over the next year we will be supporting Bowel Cancer UK to spread the word, building on the work we have already done to engage with our communities. We hope that the programme will help us to ensure our services are working for our populations, and look forward to seeing what we can achieve by working together.”
For more information about bowel cancer symptoms and how to get involved in the programme, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk/edp-birmingham/.
