#GUTSelfie 2024
Today, 30th June 2024, is #GUTSelfie, a movement created by Guts UK a charity dedicated to breaking the embarrassment and stigma surrounding digestive health. It’s a day where I feel so much unconditional love and support from an amazing community.
You can check out the My IBD Journey tag to read through my life with Ulcerative Colitis and being an ostomate but I wanted to dedicate a blog post to the amazing work Guts UK has been doing so far this year.
January
January was Less Survivable Cancers Awareness Day, where I learnt that Guts UK was part of the Less Survivable Cancers Taskforce (LSCT). They are a group of charities aiming to double the survival rates of the 6 less survival cancers by 2029. These 6 are; stomach, oesophageal, pancreatic, liver, brain and lung cancer.
As part of LSCT, Guts UK attended Westminster alongside the families affected by these cancers. Highlighting the 5-year survival rate, which is just 16%, and calling on policies and plans to include specific actions for those with less survivable cancers.
February
Alongside many news posts about different digestive conditions, February was Feeding Tube Awareness Week and Guts UK introduced us to Sarah and Dominika who shared their stories.
📸 Images are from the Guts UK webpage.
I am going to link the blog posts on each picture and I highly recommend reading them. I find that Guts UK are amazing at sharing people’s stories. Not only do I learn so much from the storyteller, but there are always links to additional information if needed.
March
We met Colin! Colin the inflatable colon had a dedicated post this past March, and I think he’s smashing! He goes out on the road, educating people up and down the country.
Not only an amazing visible representation of the many invisible gut illnesses out there, but I also love that there is an interactive element.
April
Being Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, many different cancer charities talked about or highlighted the importance of getting your poo checked if there is blood. I have spoken in a previous post about the language used around this.
Blood in your poo doesn’t always mean cancer. And although a major concern and a serious reason to be tested, with the “taboo on poo”, I feel that it can have the opposite effect. Almost saying, if it isn’t cancer, then why is there blood?
Guts UK wrote an amazing piece on the at-home bowel cancer screening tests. Talked about why you should do one, how you can get one and most importantly they mentioned;
Blood can be a sign of bowel cancer, amongst other digestive conditions…
– Guts UK
Please don’t be embarrassed by bowel changes. Speak to your GP.
May
Guts UK won a Third Sector Business Charity Award! The award recognised the partnership between Guts UK and Immodium. Which helped bust myths about gut health and stacked the stigma surrounding diarrhoea.
What intrigued me about the blog post is that so many people with digestive issues still feel embarrassed. So much so, that 51% of people delay in seeking advice or support for over 6 months. And that 58% are generally too embarrassed to talk about their digestive issues or symptoms.
Those numbers are not too dissimilar from when I was diagnosed. But this partnership between Guts UK and Immodium has encouraged more people to seek the support they need.
June
And of course… for the 4th year running, GutsUK has launched the #GUTSelfie. It’s an amazing day when so many from the chronic illness and disability communities come together to share their story on a gut issue(s).
This year’s theme is Myths, Misconceptions and Misunderstandings. I have certainly experienced my fair share of that and reading other people’s stories today, really hits home how I am not alone.
So, why not check out #GUTSelfie2024 across social media today?! Or check out the Guts UK’s website. I’d love it if you joined in with educating and raising awareness and if possible, help highlight the many people fundraising for such an amazing charity.
As always, thanks for reading…
Your writing has a way of resonating with me on a deep level. I appreciate the honesty and authenticity you bring to every post. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.