One of the UKs best-known brands is set to make a huge change to their products in the hope it could save someone’s life. Andrex, the toilet paper company, has pledged to update their packaging to display symptoms of bowel cancer in a bid to raise awareness of the fourth most common cancer.
The brand is following the lead of Marks and Spencer, who announced a similar change to their packaging in May.
Around 29 million packs of the Andrex Classic Clean toilet roll packaging will feature bowel cancer information, including where to find help on signs and symptoms of the disease, and a new QR code to help raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms, inspired by Dame Deborah James’ cancer journey.
READ MORE: What happened when I asked for ‘a package for Sandy’ in four Morrisons stores
The change is taking place in its factories from July and will be visible in supermarkets from September, with hopes to update all packaging on the full Andrex toilet roll range within the next year.
Shoppers will be able to scan a printed QR code redirecting them to Bowel Cancer UK’s symptoms information on their website as part of an ongoing partnership with the charity, which includes an initial £65,000 donation to the cause.
Knowing the symptoms means that bowel cancer can be diagnosed earlier when it is more treatable and curable, as fewer than 40 per cent of people are diagnosed at the earliest stages.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer. The signs of bowel cancer you should be aware of:
-
Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your bowel movements
-
A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
-
Unexplained weight loss
-
Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
-
A pain or lump in your tummy
Genevieve Edwards, CEO of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Andrex to raise vital awareness of bowel cancer symptoms with people all over the country. It's the UK's fourth most common cancer, with someone diagnosed with the disease every 15 minutes in the UK.
"Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early, but 60 per cent of people are diagnosed at later stages when it is much more difficult to treat. Part of the problem is low awareness of the red flag symptoms of bowel cancer that should prompt people to contact their GP.
"This brilliant partnership will help millions of people across the UK know what to look out for and will undoubtedly save lives.”
READ NEXT:
-
Shoppers can get milk, bread and butter for 1p at Iceland this week - here's how
-
Warning issued to NatWest customers as thousands to expect new Mastercard debit cards
-
I paid £3 for a mystery meal at Katsouris Deli on Deansgate and I'd have paid for it four times over
-
M&S shoppers go wild for ‘jumpsuit’ that avoids ‘bathroom gymnastics’
-
Five supermarkets that will give you up to £20 off just for signing up
