INTERNATIONAL COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Bowel Cancer – the silent killer. 

Did you know that Bowel Cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer with over 41,000 people diagnosed each year? It claims a life every half an hour. 

Both men and women are affected equally. And most bowel cancer cases are in the over 50’s although the number of cases in younger people is increasing at a rapid rate. Particularly affected are the under 30’s who have seen an increase of 120% in the last decade. 

But on a much more positive note – 90% of bowel cancers that are diagnosed early can be treated successfully. 

The 5 most common symptoms of bowel cancer are:

• A change in bowel habit, especially going more often or looser stools
• Bleeding from the bottom without any obvious reason
• Abdominal pain, especially if severe
• A lump in your stomach
• Unexplained weight loss or tiredness

Many of these symptoms do not immediately mean cancer but anybody experiencing these symptoms for 3 weeks or more should seek medical advice. 

At The British Surgical Clinic, as part of our on-going commitment to preventative medicine, we are offering a range of screening tests for Bowel/Colorectal Cancer during March, April and May. 

Which screening package you decide upon will depend on your medical and family history, risk and your own personal choice of screening. We will advise each patient on an individual basis. 

Screening Package 1 - €89/£81

This simple screening is the most common and involves a short consultation with Mr Deardon and a simple test to see if there is blood in the stools. 

Screening Package 2 - €175/£126

A more in depth screening consists of a short consultation with Mr Deardon, the test to check for blood in the stools and a few blood tests which show up different markers in relation to Bowel Cancer. 

Screening Package 3 - €950/£865

A comprehensive peace of mind option. A short consultation with Mr Deardon and a “colonoscopy” (a telescope test ) which enables us to look inside the bowel and colon to check for tumours or polyps / pre-malignant growths. 

We understand that this is a delicate and embarrassing subject but don’t worry alone. 

For more information or to book an appointment for a screening package, please contact Jane in confidence on 951 703 243, by email info@thebritishsurgicalclinic.com or request a call back via Whatsapp 627 847 658 or BBM 2A5D9980.

Spanish fiesta

Our Spanish clinic will be closed on Thursday the 28th February for the Andalucia Day fiesta. 

We have very limited availability to see urgent patients on Friday 1st March. Please contact Jane on 951 703 243 or info@thebritishsurgicalclinic.com to book an appointment. 

Regards
The BSC team

A very non medical piece of news!

We are very proud of our PA Jane Naughton, who not only runs the admin side of the clinic and deals with all our patients, but is also a keen dressage rider in her spare time. She finished 2012 ranked 36th in Spain with this horse and is off next week to the Spanish Sunshine Tour in Cadiz. We wish her the very best of luck!

Ruben and Jane competing in 2012.

Merry Christmas!

The British Surgical Clinic would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year!

Bank holidays in Spain

As many of you may know, the 6th & 8th December are national bank holidays in Spain, so our Spanish clinic will be closed on Thursday 6th December. 

For any appointments, please contact the Gibraltar clinic on 00350 200 49999 which will remain open all week. 

Additional contact information for the clinic!

The British Surgical Clinic have gone all modern! You can now book appointments and make enquiries via Whatsapp or BBM. 

Add us - 2A5D9980 or whatsapp our mobile number - 627 847 658.

Make appointments more discreetly using your smart phone!

Why do I support the Positively Pink Charity ?

By Dr David Deardon, The British Surgical Clinic and Medical Lead for the Positively Pink Screening Programme

As a UK born surgeon who trained in the 1980’s when dedicated breast cancer services were being established in hospitals throughout the UK I have been involved in managing breast disease for many years. The need for screening was acutely emphasized for me when 3 members of my family were affected by the disease. After leaving my post as a consultant surgeon in the NHS and joining the Gibraltar Health Authority in 2005 as their only fully accredited surgeon, one of the first things I did was establish a one stop breast clinic. This clinic identified over 30 new cancers in the first year of existence (twice the number expected from historical data) and was instrumental in diagnosing cancers earlier. Consequently there was a need for less destructive surgery and long term outcomes improved. I

was the surgical lead on the GHA steering committee which has now successfully seen the Gibraltar Health Authority introduce its own breast screening service.

Breast Cancer Facts

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is one in nine and in the UK, 41,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (1% of cases occurring in men). The risk of breast cancer is increased in some patients if there is a family history (particularly on the maternal side). The risk of breast cancer increases with age and 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50. Current data indicate that survival rates from breast cancer are improving. The key factors for this improvement are increased breast awareness and early detection and presentation of breast cancer.

Positively Pink

I was very pleased last year to be invited to support the Positively Pink Campaign and help the charity develop a safe evidence based breast screening service for non entitled or interested British women on the Costa del Sol. Again this year, the programme offers free state of the art breast imaging (Ultrasound and / or Mammography) supported by a clinical examination with a suitably trained doctor or nurse. Self examination training is also available during your screening consultation. At Positively Pink, we believe that prevention and early detection is your best line of defense.

Positively Pink is very fortunate to have Dr David Deardon overseeing the Free breast screening programme in conjunction with Clinica Medicare in La Cala. Dr David Deardon is also now available at the clinic, for consultation and his expertise cover’s a wide remit. Tel 952 835 778. For more information on Positively Pink look at the website www.positively-pink.com or call Clinica Medicare to make an appointment for your FREE breast Screening.