PEOPLE in the West Midlands are more comfortable discussing their bodies with other people than almost anywhere else in the country, a survey had revealed.

The survey by Cancer Research UK showed 51 per cent of people in the region are happy to talk about their body parts but 33 per cent use slang words to refer to their genitals, with the most popular including ‘down below’, ‘old chap’, and ‘the last chicken in Sainsbury’s’.

Only people in the North East were more open about their bodies, with 52 per cent said they were happy talking about them to others.

The figures were released as part of the charity’s Spot Cancer Sooner campaign, encouraging people to be more aware of their bodies and keep an eye out for any changes, and also showed 71 per cent of those in the region feel people in the UK are “too British” to talk openly about their bodies.

Cancer Research UK’s head information nurse Martin Ledwick said the figures showed people in the UK are still “prudish” about discussing their bodies.

“But we want to break down those barriers,” he said. “We hope this light-hearted campaign will give people permission to discuss their bodies, no matter which part they’re referring to.”

He added cancer is much more likely to be successfully treated when diagnosed early.

“When bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage more than nine in ten patients survive their disease at least five years,” he said. “This is compared to fewer than one in ten patients with advanced bowel cancer.

“So it’s really important to know your body and not be embarrassed to discuss any changes, particularly as you get older, when cancer is more common.

“We talk to a lot of people who are too embarrassed to speak to the doctor or a family member. That’s where Cancer Research UK’s information nurses come in. They are on hand to discuss any worries confidentially and offer expert advice on the next steps.”

A YouGov survey showed 13 per cent of adults in the UK would wait to see if an unusual change in their bodies would go away rather than talking to their GP.

For more information on Cancer Research UK call 0300 123 1861 or visit cancerresearchuk.org