Spot the signs of cancer

Almost 8 thousand people are diagnosed with cancer every year according to figures from the Thames Valley Cancer Network Group.

They're now holding awareness sessions in the area - after telling Heart TOO MANY are the spotting symptoms too late.

Thames Valley Cancer Network (TVCN) is preparing to run a major campaign in Berkshire East and elsewhere in the Thames Valley highlighting the key symptoms of bowel and lung cancer.

Check out the figures and venues below:

Berkshire East:

 A total of 1,124 people in Berkshire East were reported and diagnosed as having cancer in 2009. Latest figures show that the disease is at the more advanced stages before it is even discovered in a third (32%) of those diagnosed from Berkshire East.

GPs referred 5,360 Berkshire East residents to hospital with suspected cancer symptoms, 858 with suspected bowel cancer and 83 for suspected lung cancer in 2009. Of these patients, a total of 444 were found to have cancer, just over eight per cent of all patients referred.

Berkshire West:

A total of 1,540 people in Berkshire West were reported and diagnosed as having cancer in 2009*. Latest figures show that the disease is at the more advanced stages before it was even discovered in four in 10 (40%) of those diagnosed from Berkshire West**. 

GPs referred 6,857 Berkshire West residents to hospital with suspected cancer symptoms in 2009, 1,072 with suspected bowel cancer and 237 for suspected lung cancer in 2009. Of these patients, a total of 799 were found to have cancer, more than one in 10 (11.6%) of all patients referred.

Buckinghamshire:

 A total of 2,077 people in Buckinghamshire were reported and diagnosed as having cancer in 2009*. Latest figures show that the disease is at the more advanced stages before it is even discovered in four in 10 (40%) of those diagnosed from Buckinghamshire**.   

GPs referred 7,472 Buckinghamshire residents to hospital with suspected cancer symptoms, 1,160 with suspected bowel cancer and 217 for suspected lung cancer in 2009. Of these patients, a total of 877 were found to have cancer, more than one in 10 of all patients referred.

Milton Keynes:

A total of 777 people in Milton Keynes were reported and diagnosed as having cancer in 2009*. Latest figures show that the disease is at the more advanced stages before it is even discovered in four in 10 (40%) of those diagnosed from Milton Keynes**.

GPs referred 4,086 Milton Keynes residents to hospital with suspected cancer symptoms, 562 with suspected bowel cancer and 126 for suspected lung cancer in 2009. Of these patients, a total of 349 were found to have cancer, 8.5% of all patients referred.

Oxfordshire:

A total of 2,337 people in Oxfordshire were reported and diagnosed as having cancer in 2009. Latest figures show that the disease is at the more advanced stages before it was even discovered in more than a third (36%) of those diagnosed from Oxfordshire.

GPs referred 9,723 Oxfordshire residents to hospital with suspected cancer symptoms, 1,367 with suspected bowel cancer and 350 for suspected lung cancer in 2009. Of these patients, a total of 1,263 were found to have cancer, more one in 10 (13%) of all patients referred.