HEALTH experts are planning to help cancer victims and their families.

The Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust is organising a special information day about bowel cancer.

April is national Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

The event will be at the Briar Court Hotel, Birchencliffe, next Thursday, between 10am and 3pm.

Members of the public wanting support and information are invited to attend.

Specialist nurses, who also run a support group for the trust, will be there to offer advice.

There will also be a range of the latest products and treatments on display.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer affecting men and women.

Some 38,000 cases are diagnosed a year and nearly 17,000 lives lost from it each year.

Stoma/colorectal nurse specialist Lisa Hall said: “We are a friendly team and will be happy to answer any questions in this informal setting.

“Bowel cancer is highly treatable if caught in the early stages.

“Also, in many cases, suspected symptoms prove not to be bowel cancer.

“Our support group is to encourage people to talk about the condition because talking about it raises awareness and ultimately saves lives.”

Organisations such as the Huddersfield Cancer Support Group and the Ileostomy and Urostomy Associations will also be at the open day.