Jeans for Genes

Singer Javine Hylton discovered she carries the gene for bowel cancer - find out more about her support for Jeans for Genes Day

Knowing you carry the gene for a deadly disease can feel like a death sentence - but knowledge can also be a life saver.

Javine discovered she carries the gene for bowel cancer when she was 17. Bowel cancer killed her grandmother and her uncle - both only in their 40s - and nearly claimed her mother's life too.

Therefore she's keen to help promote Jeans for Genes Day which takes place today. The pop star, who has notched up four UK hits since starring in TV show Popstars: The Rivals, said: "The more awareness and money that goes into research, the more lives we can save.

"It was too late for my grandmother and uncle but new research means it doesn't have to be the killer it was. When I first found out I carried the bowel cancer gene, I was terrified I would die young too.

"But knowing about it has been a blessing. I get tested every year -screening is like my buffer zone against the disease. If they do find any precancerous cells, they can just whip them out."

About the campaign

The lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Britain are blighted through genetic disorders. Jeans for Genes is the charity which raises funds for research and awareness of the problem.

They are launching a new campaign to highlight the problems suffered by these youngsters their families.

• The campaign is encouraging people to throw out the usual dress rules, jump into their jeans and donate £1 schools / £2 companies to help children with genetic disorders.
• There are more than 4,000 recognised genetic disorders that people suffer from. For some there is simply no cure.
• Money raised goes towards research to develop new treatments.

Bowel cancer facts

• Caught early, bowel cancer is curable. Screening for the faulty gene means people at risk can be closely monitored and treated more quickly.
• Nearly 35,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. It usually affects people between 55 and 65 but those with the gene are at risk before the age of 45.
• If you have a strong family history of bowel cancer, you could be a carrier and should ask your GP about genetic testing.
• Of the 35,000 people who are diagnosed every year in the UK with bowel cancer, almost half -16,000 - die. Yet when caught early, it is relatively simple, and cheap, to treat.

Symptoms

According to Cancer Research UK, if the following symptoms last longer than four weeks, see your GP:

• Persistent change in bowel habit
• Tummy pain
• Bleeding from your bottom
• Lump in your tummy

Helping yourself

Follow the advice below and you will reduce your chances of contracting bowel cancer in the first place. Prevention is much better than cure:

• Take half an hour of exercise every day.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a diet rich in wholegrains, fruit and vegetables.
• Women should stick to less than two units of alcohol a day (three for men).
• Stop smoking.

For more information about the Jeans for Genes campaign call 0800 980 4800 or click on links