Life saving poo
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Yet the latest data shows that almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it. Early diagnosis is vital, as detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated.
Latest data shows the proportion of people choosing to participate in bowel screening has increased to 70.3% – the highest on record. However, almost one third (30%) of people aren’t returning their test kit.
Each month, the NHS posts out more than half a million free faecal immunochemical test kits (FIT) to people to use in the privacy of their homes.
The FIT kit detects small amounts of blood in poo- that would not be visible to people – before someone may notice anything is wrong.
People aged 60 to 74 years who are registered with a GP practice and lives in England are automatically sent a FIT kit every two years. As part of plans to lower the age of people that receive the test to age 50 by 2025, 56 year olds are sent the test kit and it is currently being rolled out to 58 year olds.
The FIT kit is quicker to use than the previous bowel cancer screening home testing kit. To use it, people simply need to collect a tiny sample of poo using the plastic stick provided, pop it in the sample bottle; and send it free of charge to the NHS for tests in a laboratory.
Screening is vital in helping the NHS detect bowel cancer at the earliest stage, when it is more likely to be successfully treated.
NHS chiefs have urged people not to be “prudish about poo”, with people often reluctant to talk about it as a possible bowel cancer symptom due to embarrassment.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, and the second biggest cancer killer.
Data shows that nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK; and more than 16,500 people die from it- more than 45 people per day. The chances of surviving bowel cancer are much higher when it’s found at an early stage.
NHS Director of Vaccinations and Screening Steve Russell said
“Screening is one of the best ways to diagnose bowel cancer early, or in some cases prevent it from developing in the first place, so we want more people to do it; and stop this disease in its tracks.
The FIT kit offers eligible people a chance to quickly and safely complete a test for bowel cancer at home; and ensure that more cases are detected earlier.
If you’re sent the kit, help yourself by remembering to complete it. Put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.
If you haven’t taken a test, but are experiencing bowel cancer symptoms, such as blood in your poo or severe stomach pain, no matter your age, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.”
Simon Clarke
Cancer was caught early for Simon Clarke, 67, from Hornsey, north London, thanks to bowel cancer screening. Simon was investigated after his bowel cancer screening test; and polyps – little growths – were removed from his bowel.
“I wasn’t particularly worried.
But when they analysed the polyps, cancer was in one of them. They caught it as a very minor tumour and it hadn’t spread. Without the screening I wouldn’t have known it was there.
I’d say to other people: use the bowel cancer screening kit when you’re sent it, because if it catches something early like it did with me, it could save your life.
I would urge everyone who is sent a kit to return their test as quickly as they can, because this can detect the early signs of bowel cancer and ensure that anyone affected can get treatment for the disease as soon as possible. Don’t die of embarrassment.”
Cancer Research UK have lent their support to the new campaign and feature on the new TV Ad.
We hope this campaign helps highlight the importance of the bowel cancer screening programme and how easy the kit is to do. The test, for people without symptoms, now only requires one tiny sample of poo, and can spot hidden traces of blood that could be a sign of cancer. Finding cancer at an early stage makes it much more treatable and we recommend people complete the kit.
Dr Julie Sharp, head of health information at Cancer Research UK
Due to increased uptake of the FIT kit, more cancers are now being detected by the NHS than when the previous test was used. The FIT kit also generates fewer false positives and finds more polyps -which can be removed at colonoscopy, that might otherwise develop into cancers.
Thousands of people in England develop bowel cancer each year, but the chances of surviving it are very good when it is caught early, which is why the NHS is sending out millions of free bowel cancer screening kits for people to use in private, at home, which could potentially save their life. We have seen a fantastic response to our previous cancer awareness campaigns, with record levels of people coming forward for cancer checks, and more people starting cancer treatment than in previous years.
National clinical director for Cancer, Professor Peter Johnson
Together with the NHS we are continuing to extend the screening offer to those aged 50-74. People concerned that they may have missed their invitation or have lost or thrown away their kit can call the free bowel cancer screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60. Information on bowel cancer and the screening programme can be found at Bowel cancer screening – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
As part of the NHS long term plan, the health service will be lowering the age of those eligible for home testing kits to all people aged 50 and above by 2025 and this is the next phase in the programme’s expansion.