Bowel cancer screening programme success

One year on from the launch of the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) public information campaign on bowel cancer screening, over 57,000 test kits have been returned to the lab to be screened – but there are still people out there who aren’t taking up the opportunity.

Those eligible are being encouraged to consider taking the test as it could save their life.

Dr Tracy Owen, Consultant in Public Health Medicine with the PHA, explained: “Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Northern Ireland and claims the lives of 400 local people each year. The good news is that the earlier the cancer is detected, the chances of successful treatment improve significantly – when identified at a very early stage, there is a 90% successful treatment rate.

“This is why it is so important that people think about using this simple test, as it really could be a matter of life and death.”

The screening kit is used to detect traces of blood in the bowel motion which, if found, will be investigated further. Most people who are tested will have no blood in their bowel motions and will be invited to repeat the screening test again two years later. Only 10 people in every 500 who complete the test kit will have traces of blood in their bowel motion, and only one of these will have bowel cancer.

The test is very simple to do and can be completed within the privacy of your own home. It is hoped that as the test is carried out at home, more people will respond, particularly men, who often find health issues difficult to talk about.

Dr Owen added: “All men and women aged 60 to 71 years are currently invited for screening every two years. I would strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to participate in the screening programme to think about doing the test. If you are eligible for the programme it is extremely important that your GP has your most up-to-date address and correct date of birth or you may miss the chance to take part.”

Anyone who has received the test kit and has questions about how to use it can call a freephone helpline number on 0800 015 2514.

For further information on the screening programme and what it involves, visit www.cancerscreening.hscni.net