Shropshire Star comment: Diagnosis so vital at early stage
Don't die of embarrassment, they say, but people still do.
When it comes to the waterworks, or the other kind of works, people with medical complaints feel a bit awkward about it.
That's one reason why bowel cancer makes stealthy progress while those with symptoms tell themselves it's not really happening, or are reluctant to mention it to their doctor and submit themselves to an examination.
That is part of the problem, which seems to be particularly prevalent among men. Another is recognising that there is something wrong in the first place.
It is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK and if diagnosed early is treatable and curable.
That fact underlines the importance of early diagnosis, and a bridge towards that is making people aware of the disease and ready to act promptly when there are signs of something untoward going on.
This is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and a few days ago BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen revealed that he has been diagnosed and is undergoing chemotherapy.
He had noticed "funny pains in my legs and in my back" in May and despite having none of the classic bowel cancer symptoms thought he would get tested anyway. A wise move.
Chloe Evans, who is 21, lost her dad Wayne when she was 15. Wayne had promptly sought that all-important medical help but tragically, in his case, the chances for early intervention were missed and by the time he was correctly diagnosed it was too late.
So it is not only patients who need to be highly attuned to the symptoms and possibility of bowel cancer, even in younger people – newly diagnosed cases are overwhelmingly among the over-50s – but also the medical men and women.
Chloe's dad was not in this higher risk age group, so bowel cancer was not suspected, and without treatment the cancer made ground.
“I want my dad’s story to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and to encourage people to go to the doctors if they have any symptoms and to persist with their doctors if they think something is wrong.
“I don’t want another family to go through what we’ve been through,” says Chloe.
She has been raising money in his memory for Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer.
Because of the missed opportunities in Wayne's story, a family man was taken from his family.
Spot the signs, seize the opportunities, get tested – because if you do nothing, you could be letting cancer make the running.
