ORGANISERS behind a new charity to help bowel cancer sufferers are hoping for the support of the people of West Devon.

'Bowel Cancer West' (BCW) will be launched by Mark Coleman, colorectal consultant at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust on Thursday, March 11 in Plymouth.

BCW has been established by Mr Coleman to help improve the way that patients in the West Country with bowel cancer are diagnosed and treated. The charity will support both research opportunities and training for doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals.

He said: 'There are a number of fundraising benchmarks which have been set by Bowel Cancer West which will allow a range of projects to be delivered.

'These include pilot pre-operative patient studies and establishing a registry of patients at risk of bowel cancer due to inherited genetic conditions, which will enable clinicians to improve their identification and management. 

'The charity is also hoping to fund a clinical trial for post operative patient recovery, which may impact on future surgery or chemotherapy treatments.'

For more information see the BCW website at http://www.bowelcancerwest.org.uk">www.bowelcancerwest.org.uk