What is Decembeard?

Decembeard isn’t just about men growing their beards ridiculously long and covering them in glitter, tinsel and baubles. However, this is one of the things men up and down the UK will be doing to raise money for Bowel Cancer.

December is also known as ‘Decembeard’, a hair-raising campaign organised by Bowel Cancer UK, encouraging men to abandon their razors and grow a beard to raise money and awareness for bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the UK’s second-biggest cancer killer and more than 44 people die from bowel cancer every day. If detected early, bowel cancer can be treated and cured to help stop it coming back.

Sadly, not all of us are able to grow a magnificent beard, but anyone can get involved by spreading the word about Decembeard and encouraging brothers, uncles and partners to leave their razors where they are and let nature take its course! If you already have a large amount of facial hair, why not decorate yourself and make a true statement!

To get involved in Decembeard, visit the Bowel Cancer UK website to sign up: www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

The facts

• Over 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.
• Around 268,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.
• More than 2,500 new cases are diagnosed each year in people under the age of 50.
• 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.

Symptoms of bowel cancer

It’s important to know the symptoms of bowel cancer, nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer. However this drops significantly as the disease develops, early diagnosis saves lives!

You should never feel embarrassed about seeing a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Change in bowel habit
• Unexplained weight loss
• Stomach pain
• Lump in stomach
• Blood in stool
• Extreme fatigue