22.10.12
Societal negligence?
It has been found that approximately a quarter of those diagnosed with bowel cancer were only diagnosed after being admitted as an emergency case.
This suggests that individuals admitted as an emergency were experiencing the advanced stages of bowel cancer and were considered inoperable.
Bowel cancer is the second largest form of cancer death. The audit revealed that 47% of those admitted as an emergency case were aged over 85. 28% of the emergency cases were women and 30% were deprived individuals.
Surely this shows a lack of awareness of bowel cancer symptoms. Does this also reflect the negligence that our society affords to the deprived, to women and to elderly people?
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