Good luck Bowel Cancer UK, with "Care to Share".

Aha! Another mildly daft poll, about the daft British public, women in this case, and their erroneous beliefs on cancer risk, in women. This one is a bread and butter error, arising from the cumulative effect of all dopey, disconnected cancer awareness everywhere. Once more, gender specific cancers are thought of as being a greater problem for a gender (in this case women) than non-gender specific cancers are.

I reproduce some clunky English from the home of otherwise admirable good intentions on awareness raising for women, about bowel cancer. Bowel Cancer UK. [But do look at what you wrote!]

"Care to Share

Only one in four women know that bowel cancer is one of the three most common cancers in women.

In our recent survey women were asked to name the top three cancers they were most at risk of. Worryingly women identified cervical and ovarian cancer, as more common for them than bowel cancer.

It is crucial that women identify their risk of bowel cancer and get to know the symptoms. Symptom awareness is especially important with this disease, as if caught in its early stages, 9 out of 10 cases can be successfully treated.

We recommend visiting your doctor if you have any concerns or speak to one of our nurses about any aspect of bowel cancer and bowel health on 0800 8 40 35 40 or email support@bowelcanceruk.org.uk."

My version

First, please fix the first sentence into clearer English and then put more cancer detail into the cancer awareness messages.

Three quarters of women were wrong. OK. But how wrong? A bit wrong, very wrong? As you are making the comparison with other cancers, don’t chicken out half way and maybe fret that you are writing knocking copy about cervical and ovarian cancers. You aren’t. You are sharing facts.

Then:-

Care to Share

Only a quarter of women know that bowel cancer is one of the top three most common cancers in women.

In our recent survey, women were asked to name the top three cancers they were most at risk of. The right answers were breast, lung and bowel. Women in our survey identified cervical (the 11th most common cancer in women) and ovarian (5th most common cancer in women) as more likely to affect them than bowel cancer is.

Six times as many women are diagnosed with bowel cancer per year as are diagnosed with cervical cancer. Almost three times as many women are diagnosed with bowel cancer as are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

It is crucial that women know ‘women only’ cancers does not mean the ‘only cancers women need to think about’

Women should understand their risk of bowel cancer – it's a common cancer in women - and get to know the symptoms. Symptom awareness is especially important. If caught early, 9 out of 10 cases can be successfully treated.

We recommend visiting your doctor if you have any concerns or speak to one of our nurses about any aspect of bowel cancer and bowel health on 0800 8 40 35 40 or email support@bowelcanceruk.org.uk.