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Brits at risk of bowel cancer to receive life-saving tests thanks to Dame Deborah James’ £2m Bowelbabe Fund donation
BRITS at increased risk of bowel cancer will get life-saving checks under a new scheme funded by Dame Deborah James’ Bowelbabe Fund.
The Cancer Research UK project will improve access to colonoscopies used to diagnose the condition quickly while it’s still treatable.


It’s being rolled out in the Scottish Borders and, if successful, could be adopted by NHS trusts across the UK.
Dr Jonathan Fletcher, consultant physician and NHS Borders lead clinician for the project, said: “With the support of CRUK and the Bowelbabe Fund, we are excited to be overhauling the colonoscopy follow up arrangements for Borders patients with a variety of conditions that increase their risk of bowel cancer.
“There will be a range of benefits to patients and the endoscopy service that we hope to examine and measure with this initiative.”
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common form of the disease in the UK, diagnosed 44,000 times per year, and second biggest cancer killer, claiming 16,800 lives annually.
But in November 2024, only 69.4 per cent of patients in England started treatment within 62 days of an urgent cancer referral, missing the NHS England target of 85 per cent, which hasn’t been met since 2015.
Waiting times in Scotland aren’t much better, and are among the worst on record for the country.
In April to June last year, only 73 per cent of people who were referred urgently with suspected cancer started treatment within 62 days.
However, those regarded at higher risk of developing bowel cancer – usually because of pre-existing medical conditions like colitis, Crohn’s disease, type 2 diabetes or having a family history – aren’t covered by this target.
Instead, they are put on ‘surveillance’ lists because they need tests at regular intervals and don’t necessarily have symptoms.
Those showing signs of cancer take priority, leaving some people who may have a similar risk waiting long periods for vital checks.
The new initiative, part of a national programme called Test, Evidence, Transition (TET), aims to tackle this “forgotten waiting list”.
Hundreds of patients will be offered colonoscopies – a type of endoscopy, or non-surgical procedure using a flexible camera to examine the inside of the colon – far more quickly.
Specially-trained nurses will then free up doctors to help treat patients with a diagnosis.
There will also be more support and advice on how to manage their condition, and reminders to avoid missed appointments.
Naser Turabi, director of evidence and implementation at CRUK, said: “There is a relatively less well-known group of people who are at a higher risk of bowel cancer, waiting too long for crucial colonoscopy tests.
“It has no official target and so can get less attention and resources.
“We are delighted to support this exciting initiative to reduce the wait and improve outcomes for patients in their region.
“If patients in this pilot scheme can be tested at the right frequency, we have a better chance of diagnosing cancer earlier, when treatment is much more likely to be successful.
“We hope the learning from this work will be adopted elsewhere in Scotland and across the UK.”
The signs of bowel cancer you need to know
1. B: Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo.
Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.
Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.
Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer.
It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.
You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.
Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.
You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia. If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage.
See your GP if it doesn’t go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep
Julieann Brennan, strategic lead and board coordinator for Public Health National Screening Programmes in Scotland, added: “This is an exciting opportunity to work with Cancer Research UK to improve access to our colonoscopy services, particularly for those who may be at higher risk of developing bowel cancer.
“We also want to make improvements in communications with those patients who may be at higher risk.”
TET previously focused on reducing waiting times for people with suspected breast and prostate cancer.
It has received £2million from CRUK and the Bowelbabe Fund, created to continue the inspiring legacy of Dame Debs, who died of bowel cancer in 2022 aged 40.
The “innovative” new pilot is a collaboration between NHS Borders, CRUK and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Dancing On Ice films ‘incredibly emotional’ final tribute to Torvill and Dean as pair retire from skating
DANCING On Ice has filmed Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean’s final ever skate on the show and it brought the audience to tears, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
The Olympic champions will soon hang up their blades after 50 years of incredible performances when they take to the road for a UK arena tour titled Our Last Dance.


Last weekend they performed on the Dancing On Ice rink together for the last time, skating a completely new routine which will air in the series final next month.
A source said: “No one in the audience had a clue they were about see such a historic moment.
“Jayne and Chris put on an incredible performance and proved they still had that magical chemistry on the ice after five decades.
“It was really emotional to watch and there were plenty of tears in the studio. It was an absolute privilege and something we’ll never see again.”
An insider confirmed the routine was filmed in advance for time reasons.
The medal-winning pairing announced their plans to leave the ice behind earlier this year.
Though it was a big decision, Christopher, 66, admitted they were ready.
He said: “We’ve been doing it a long time and people our age shouldn’t be doing it now, so we’re just happy that we can still do it.”
It’s not the end for their association with the show though, with both Chris and Jayne, 67, confirming they’ll be back on the judging panel next year.
Once their skating commitments are fulfilled, Jane plans to soak up the sun and play tennis with husband Phil Christensen in Spain where they have a holiday home.
Meanwhile Christopher and his partner Karen are buying a motorhome to travel around the UK.
Jayne and Chris were first partnered together in 1975 after winning British Championships.
In their first Olympic Games in 1980, the pairing skated away with a fifth-placed finish. It set them in good stead for what would become a career-defining win four years later, in Sarajevo.
The 1984 routine to the iconic Bolero is still revered to this day and kickstarted a decade long winning run in which they were quite literally unbeatable.
They returned to the amateur scene, after years spent on the professional circuit, for the 1994 Games where they received a hard fought bronze medal.


iPhone 16e launches TODAY – where to pre-orders Apple’s first budget AI phone
ALL hail Apple’s latest smartphone! The iPhone 16e has arrived.
Apple’s first budget-friendly phone is packed with AI-powered features – and it’s available to pre-order now.

This February sees the launch of a brand-new iPhone, just as three popular models have been discontinued.
The iPhone 16e was launched on a pre-order basis today (Friday 21st February), and will go on general sale in a week’s time (28th February).
It seems to be positioned by Apple as a follow-up to its budget-friendly iPhone SE series, the last of which was released in 2022.
And, yes, the word ‘budget’ has always been a bit of a stretch for Apple devices.
But the all-new 16e comes with many of the features of the rest of the iPhone 16 range, just for less cash.
You can create your own emoji, edit people out of your selfies (goodbye, photobombers), and even get your notifications summarised so you don’t waste time scrolling through everything.
Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 16e, including the price and where to pre-order.
Apple iPhone 16e price
The iPhone 16e starts at £599 for the base model, which comes with 128GB of storage.
If you need more space, you’ll need to spend £699 for the 256GB version and £899 for the 512GB model.
The 16e is priced within what feels more like mid-range territory, compared to the 2022 iPhone SE, which cost £419 when it launched.
But compared to the iPhone 16, which starts at £799 for the same 128GB storage, it’s a much cheaper – if not outright cheap – device.
Apple iPhone 16e – where to pre-order
The iPhone 16e is available to buy SIM-free basis, which is ideal if you’ve already got a SIM contract.
But if you’d rather spread the cost, you can also pick it up on a pay-monthly deal from pretty much all major UK providers.
SIM-Free
Pay-Monthly
- Mobiles.co.uk, from £25.99 per month – buy here
- Carphone Warehouse, from £25.99 per month – buy here
- Vodafone, from £41.80 per month – buy here
- EE, from £25.83 per month – buy here
- Three – buy here
- Tesco Mobile, from £30.49 per month – buy here
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: What’s the difference?
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 16 may look similar, but there are key differences to consider.
The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP main camera with 1x and 2x optical zoom, while the iPhone 16 adds a 12MP ultra-wide lens for more versatile shots.
The iPhone 16 also packs advanced features like macro photography and Cinematic mode for 4K Dolby Vision, which the 16e lacks.
On the front, the iPhone 16 includes Apple’s Dynamic Island for an interactive display experience, while the 16e sticks to the older notch design.
Both phones feature OLED screens, but the iPhone 16 is brighter, with up to 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness compared to the 16e’s 1,200 nits.
MagSafe compatibility is another big difference.
The iPhone 16 supports MagSafe accessories and faster wireless charging, but the 16e only offers basic Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W.
Both devices share the A18 chip, but the 16e has a slightly less powerful four-core GPU.
But the 16e pulls ahead in battery life, offering up to 26 hours of video playback versus the iPhone 16’s 22 hours.
The 16e is a solid budget choice, but the iPhone 16 offers more for photography and accessory fans.
MORE TECH
Head to The Sun’s shopping tech page for more tech deals, discounts and new releases.
EastEnders legend unrecognisable 15 years after soap death as he celebrates 40th anniversary – can you guess who he is?
AN EastEnders legend has been spotted looking unrecognisable, 15 years after their soap death.
The star was celebrating the 40th anniversary of the hit soap.


EastEnders fans were left devastated last night when it was confirmed Martin Fowler [James Bye] had died following the explosion at the Queen Vic.
The character has been a part of EastEnders since 1985 and James, 40, joined the cast in 2014.
One EastEnders legend who congratulated the soap on its 40th celebrations was the star who used to play Bradley Branning, but he was killed off on the show’s 25th anniversary.
He’s since swapped acting but an entirely different profession, working as a chef.
It’s none other than Charlie Clements.
Charlie took to social media to share a selfie wishing the soap well, as he reminisced on his soap death, fifteen years ago.
He wrote: “Reminded today that ‘ I died ‘ 15 years ago today which makes that little thing even older.!!! As EE turns 40 I remind myself how fortunate I was to work on such an institution at such a young age and will be forever thankful to those to who made it possible. The BBC, Kate Harewood, John Yorke, Julia Crampsie and Diederick Santer. Thank you to Tony Jordan, @malarkeyphelps @dominictc , Alex lamb and the entire team of writers for some unbelievable scripts and for trusting me with their words.
“To the many many directors and crew who work tirelessly to put the show together, the first in and the last out. @jamesalexandrou and @natcass1 for taking me under your wing and The entire cast who I had the privilege of working with.
“My unbelievable family @dollyjj @madelinedugganxx , Lorna Fitzgerald @mrjakewood and of course @laceyturner. And to those who are sadly no longer with us who made me feel instantly welcome, June Brown, John Bardon, Wendy Richard and Dame Barbara Windsor, thank you. And finally the biggest thanks goes to the entire team @thebwhagency who I will be forever indebted to, not once but twice.
“Happy birthday EE, I am immensely proud to have been a small part of you.”
Lots of fans in the comments were quick to write: “Dead but never forgotten,” about his character.
Charlie now rocks a beard and glasses, and keeps his Instagram followers with regular updates.
Showing his talents away from acting, Charlie posts cooking videos, and in December he posed with a bottle of wine and said: “Cheers… Merry Christmas.”
Charlie has also shared snaps of his baking skills including a coconut tray bake and lemon meringue cupcakes.
He enjoys golf and travelling, and posted a snap of himself with a new puppy a couple of months back.
Charlie even teased a return to acting last year, as he posted a picture of a script of Great Gatsby.
He told fans it was “showtime,” and also used the hash tag “actorslife.”
Speaking about his career switch, Bradley previously told the Sun: “It was just a way of me supporting the family. At the end of the day the kids and the family come first. I’ve never been afraid of work and never been work shy.”
He added: “Acting is always my first love and will always be my career choice but at the end of the day I’ve got bills to pay and a family to support like everyone else.”
Charlie played lovable Bradley in the soap from January 2006 to February 2010, before he was tragically killed off.
He won the ‘Best Exit’ prizes at the British Soap and Inside Soap awards following his dramatic roof fall in his final EastEnders scene.
Charlie has since gone on to star as Jake O’Reilly in Casualty in 2013, before starring as Charlie Brackenreid in Murdoch Mysteries.
He’s also played a part in drama Elizabeth And Her Enemies.
And he’d never make a return to the BBC soap, telling The Sun: “I can’t say I’ve watched EastEnders since I left. I don’t miss it because if I hadn’t left I wouldn’t be doing other shows which I prefer doing.
“They resurrect characters sometimes but even if they wanted Bradley back as a ghost I wouldn’t take up that offer.”
He added: “I didn’t let them kill me off but before I started on the show I always said that I wanted to do four years and that was it. It was my decision to leave.”



