FROME mum, Lisa Wells, recently appeared on ITV’s This Morning, where she helped spread awareness for the symptoms of bowel cancer by sharing her story.
Lisa has terminal liver and bowel cancer, diagnosed shortly after giving birth to her second daughter. Lisa was told that her symptoms were due to her pregnancy, but later found out that she in fact had stage four cancer.
As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, Lisa joined hosts Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Langsford and invited guest, Dr. Chris, on the sofa to discuss the symptoms of bowel cancer and her personal story. After telling her story, Eamonn and Ruth were visibly moved and lost for words, but gave Lisa a comforting hug.
Lisa has started a petition, alongside fundraising for her daughters, to get the age of free bowel cancer screening down to 25 from 55 in the hope that it will save other people’s lives.
As part of her petition, Lisa said, “Bowel cancer can affect you at any age. Despite this, NHS bowel cancer screening is only offered to people aged 55 or over, as this is when you’re more likely to get bowel cancer.
“Why should a family be without their young mother, wife, sister, daughter, just because they are ‘too young’ for free screening?”
Speaking to Frome Times about her time on ‘This Morning’, Lisa said, “Eamonn, Ruth and Dr Chris were all so lovely. They made me feel so welcome and were genuinely interested in my story. It was so much fun, although it goes by so quickly when you are there.
“The response I have had has been truly overwhelming. I have had so many messages I can hardly keep up! Each one is so lovely. There has been a fair few that have told me that I have encouraged them to do their testing and that for me is a huge part in me sharing my story.
“At the moment, I think the petition is going really well, we need a little more of a boost but it sure is making people more aware of the screening.”
At the time of writing, the petition has gained 22,300 signatures, which continues to rise each day.
The UK Government states that ‘At 10,000 signatures you get a response from the government. At 100,000 signatures your petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament. If you would like to help Lisa see change, sign the petition at https://www.change.org /p/ jeremy-hunt-reduce-the-age-at-which-bowel- cancer-screening-is-offered.
Lisa’s Army UK is currently in the planning process of more fundraising events to raise money for Lisa’s children and Dorothy House Hospice Care.
To keep up to date on these events visit Lisa’s Army UK on Facebook. To donate to Lisa’s cause visit her Crowdfunding page on www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lisa-wells-3
