The NHS has issued a stark warning to Tesco shoppers who buy the supermarket’s own-brand toilet roll, urging them to ‘keep an eye out’ and ‘contact your GP practice if something doesn’t feel right’
The NHS is calling on Tesco customers to ‘keep an eye out’ and to ‘contact your GP practice if something doesn’t feel right’, issuing a stark health warning as Tesco’s exclusive Luxury Soft loo rolls now sport the NHS logo on their wrapping. In a bid to ramp up bowel cancer awareness, the partnership between NHS and Britain’s leading grocer aims to tap into the regular shopping habits of consumers.
Echoing across social media platform X, the NHS broadcasted: “Keep an eye out for our logo on @Tesco toilet roll-78.9 million rolls sold and counting!” The move acts as a timely nudge for shoppers to stay vigilant for early signs of cancer during their bathroom routine.
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The NHS is highlighting: “It’s a reminder for people to look out for possible signs of cancer when going to the loo. Know what’s normal for you and contact your GP practice if something doesn’t feel right.”
On each pack, just below the NHS logo, is a critical message which reads: “Finding cancer earlier makes it more treatable and can save lives.”
On this unique packaging, customers will find a checklist of cancer indicators that might be detected in the loo, including changes in bowel movements or blood traces, reports the Express. For an exhaustive list of cancer symptoms, individuals are encouraged to navigate to www.nhs.uk/cancersymptoms.
Signs of bowel cancer include:
- changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- bleeding from your bottom
- often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- tummy pain
- a lump in your tummy
- bloating
- losing weight without trying
- feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer
Should anyone experience symptoms of bowel cancer for more than three weeks, it’s imperative to consult a doctor. The NHS offers comfort, stating: “Try not to be embarrassed. The doctor or nurse will be used to talking about these symptoms.”
If you observe that your stools are black or dark red, or if you’re suffering from bloody diarrhoea, it’s essential to arrange an urgent GP appointment or seek help from NHS 111. Assistance can be accessed by dialling 111 or using the online service at 111.nhs.uk.
Cancer manifests in over 200 different varieties and can impact any part of the body, including organs, blood, bone marrow, and the immune system. In some cases, cancer may spread from its original location to other areas of the body, a process referred to as secondary cancer or metastasis.
The specific type of cancer dictates the treatment approach. Standard treatments for cancer include surgical removal of the tumour, chemotherapy with drugs designed to eradicate cancer cells, and radiotherapy which employs radiation to target and eliminate cancer cells.
Additional treatment methods might encompass immunotherapy, enhancing the immune system’s ability to combat cancer, and hormone therapy, aimed at decelerating or stopping the proliferation of cancerous cells.
The NHS reassures patients: “You’ll be looked after by a team of specialists who will work with you to create a treatment plan that is best for you.”