New text-based support service launched for people with bowel cancer

A new text-based service to support people with bowel cancer has been launched by Bowel Cancer UK.

The free service, created to support the 43,000 people in the UK diagnosed every year with bowel cancer, is believed to be the first text message support service of its kind. When patients enrol on the programme, they receive a text each day for five days, offering support and sharing advice and videos. Topics covered include coping with a diagnosis,  talking to close friends and family about the condition and using relaxation techniques.

To sign up for the service, patients scan a QR code on the Bowel Cancer UK website.

The charity developed the service in less than eight weeks, in partnership with the microlearning platform GoodCourse.

Catherine Winsor, director of services at Bowel Cancer UK, said: “As a charity we are committed to being there for bowel cancer patients at every step. We know being diagnosed with bowel cancer can be an emotional experience and the programme aims to help reduce anxiety about your diagnosis. We’re excited to partner with GoodCourse and hope the service offers much needed support to those who have recently been diagnosed.”

Chris Mansfield, CEO of GoodCourse, said that “accessibility and ease of use” were particularly important when it came to support, “particularly when someone is going through one of their toughest challenges.”