Bladder & Bowel Community

30/04/2026

New guest blog for Loneliness Awareness Week 💛

Living with a physical or mental health condition can feel isolating, especially when it’s hard to talk about.

In this blog, Bladder & Bowel Community explore how people living with bladder or bowel conditions can start to feel alone, even though these experiences are more common than we think, and how stigma can stop people from opening up.

They also share how support and connection can help people feel less alone.

Read more here: https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org/post/why-hiding-bladder-or-bowel-problems-can-feel-so-isolating

If you’d like to share a story from your community or organisation, get in touch at lonelinessawarenessweek@marmaladetrust.org

29/04/2026

Thank you to Guardian Readers and Editors for raising the issue of declining public toilets. These public facilities are a necessity for any establishment or place seeking to attract visitors, and we so often hear that the state of existing toilets is not acceptable. We need to help people lead healthier lives by promoting clean toilets that can be available to anyone who needs them.

💙A Just Can’t Wait Card remains a necessary part of life for anyone living with a bladder or bowel condition - you can download one for FREE to your smartphone, or purchase a traditional plastic card via our website.

Find out more 👉 https://www.bladderandbowel.org/free-just-cant-wait-card/

21/04/2026

Today would have been Gemma Savory's birthday - our team member and friend who sadly passed away in October 2025 💙

We'll never forget her humour, zest for life, pragmatic attitude and her immense care for others despite her own situation. The impact Gem had on the community and us as a team has been a gift. We send all our love and are thinking of her family on this important day.

21/04/2026

Reducing caffeine can also support your bladder, but we’re glad to hear this too! Great info from British Heart Foundation

Tea and coffee are Britain’s go‑to hot drinks and more of us are choosing decaf. But is it actually better for your heart?

Removing caffeine from our favourite hot drinks does not change the amount of antioxidants that give regular tea and coffee their health benefits.

Research has found that people who drink coffee before midday may have a lower risk of heart and circulatory diseases, whether it’s decaf or not.

So decaf tea and coffee can absolutely be part of a healthy diet, as long as you’re not loading them up on the sugar, syrups or cream. If caffeine affects your sleep, makes you feel jittery, or triggers heart palpitations, switching to decaf could help.

05/03/2026

Endometriosis can be a debilitating condition, but did you know that in some cases it can lead to a stoma? If this has been discussed with you, and you have questions, help is out there. Many thanks to Colostomy UK for this helpful reminder 💙

Can endometriosis lead to a stoma?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body. In some cases, this tissue can grow on or into the bowel. This can cause ongoing pain, bowel problems, blockages, and other serious symptoms that affect day-to-day life.

When bowel endometriosis is severe, surgery may be needed to remove damaged sections of bowel. In a small number of cases, this surgery can result in a temporary or permanent stoma, either to allow the bowel to heal or to protect someone’s long-term health.

If you’re living with endometriosis and a stoma - or you’re worried about what surgery might mean for you, support is available.

Our helpline is here to listen and offer guidance and support for anyone affected by a stoma. Call our free stoma helpline: 0800 328 4257, or visit endometriosis uk: https://www.endometriosis-uk.org/

Endometriosis UK

25/02/2026

Take part in Grace & Green's global Incontinence survey, which invites you, across genders, backgrounds and abilities to share:
💧 What actually helps
💧 What gets in the way
💧 What needs to change.

TAKE PART TODAY! https://bit.ly/3OxVyuo

As a thank you, you'll receive a 50% off voucher to use across their NEW incontinence range.

Find out more: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/news/break-the-taboo-50-off-grace-green/

& Green

18/02/2026

🏊🏿‍♂️🏊🏊🏾‍♀️ We're delighted to see that London Marathon Events are supporting people's toileting needs ahead of the Serpentine Swim in September 2026.

🚽 Event supporters and participants will now have better access to toilets with the Just Can't Wait Card.

And we LOVE that they are offering continence pads at information points and drink stations, as well as tampons 🩸for those that need them.

The Calm Space for ND will likely be a welcome addition to what can be a very overwhelming space for some.

Find out more: https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/swim-serpentine/route

Good luck to all participants with your training and preparation! 💪

The course

11/02/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sometimes it's the little things - having something that gives you more confidence to leave the house and know you have a backup. The Just Can't Wait Card is a powerful thing, and it totally FREE to download via our website.

The original toilet card, at your fingertips!

Visit https://www.bladderandbowel.org/free-just-cant-wait-card/ to get yours.

04/02/2026

Behind every cancer diagnosis is a unique human story—stories of resilience, grief, hope, and healing. At Bladder & bowel Community we work with so many people who face cancers that affect the bladder and/or bowel, and this campaign brings them to the heart of our community.

Read our story: https://www.bladderandbowel.org/news/worldcancerday-united-cancer/

With a people-centred care approach we can see the whole person and meet their unique needs with compassion and empathy.

28/01/2026

Are you allowed chocolate?? We're always told of the things to avoid, that could harm our bladder or bowel. But what about things that will make it calmer, happier, and make us feel more in control?

Read our full article with information on what to avoid, and what foods your bladder will love 👉 https://www.bladderandbowel.org/news/eating-way-healthier-bladder-bowel/

Are there foods you find work for you? Comment below!

26/01/2026

We are thrilled to see that the NHS will increase the sensitivity of bowel cancer screening in England from next month. The current threshold will be lowered by a third, in line with Wales and Scotland's current screening policy. This change should catch and prevent more cancers, and save lives.

Today NHS has announced that it will lower the threshold at which home-screening kits for bowel cancer will trigger a referral for further testing 📢

From next month, the level at which a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) in England will lead to further investigations will lower from 120 micrograms of blood per gram of poo (µg/g) down to 80 µg/g. The NHS will now roll out the lower threshold carefully across England, with national coverage set to be completed by 2028.

The NHS estimates that this change will lead to 35% more screening colonoscopies each year in England to help diagnose, rule out or even prevent bowel cancer.

Read more about this exciting announcement: https://bit.ly/3Ztr5zL

21/01/2026

When you're suffering constipation, you can feel really, really awful. In this article we delve into the stigma, the. emotional and physical impact of constipation, and the very real cost to the NHS.

Find out more 👉 https://www.bladderandbowel.org/news/the-cost-of-constipation/