According to NHS statistics, thousands more people visited their page on bowel cancer symptoms this week after the passing of Dame Deborah James.
After the family had announced her death Tuesday evening, the number of page views rose from 2000 to 23,000 on Tuesday to 23,000 Wednesday.
Deborah, a 40-year-old woman, had had bowel cancer from 2016.
She devoted her last years of life to speaking out about cancer and encouraging people to seek treatment.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS, called her an “inspiration to us all”.
She said, “People don’t always feel comfortable talking about their cancer diagnosis or treatment. But Deborah bravely spoke out about her own journey and has inspired thousands to examine the symptoms.”
Sajid Javid, Health and Social Care Secretary, said that Dame Deborah had left an “incredible legacy”.
He said, “These figures show the powerful and life-saving effect she has had – inspiring many people across the country get informed and get checked out.
After her diagnosis, Dame Deborah was made a podcaster and blogger about cancer.
Former deputy head teacher was one-third of the BBC You, Me, and the Big C podcast. She announced that she was in the final stages of her life in May.
She has raised over PS7m for Cancer Research, and shares information about bowel cancer and how it can be detected.
Jade Goody, a reality TV star who died in 2009 and was a prominent figure, has also helped spread awareness about the importance of checking for cancer.
Ms. Goody’s death from cervical cancer led to an increase of 12% in the number of women who have had NHS smears.
Referrals to breast cancer clinics increased more than twice in the UK after Angelina Jolie, a high-risk actress, announced that she had had a double mammectomy.
Three things are important to keep an eye on:
Other symptoms may also be present, including:
Everybody between the ages of 60 and 74 can have a regular bowel-cancer screening.
The programme will be expanding slowly over the next four years to include all people between 50 and 59 in England. This expansion was initiated in April of last year.
Anyone in England between 60 and 74 years old who is registered with a GP receives an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every two-years.
Screening begins in Scotland at the age 50.
If you are between the ages of 58 and 74, you will be invited to participate in bowel cancer screenings in Wales.
Northern Ireland residents over 60 years old are welcome to participate.
Even if you’re not in this age group, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and consult your GP if there are any concerns.
Source: NHS UK
