Bowel cancer screening programme - poor uptake

Tuesday, 2nd February 2010

We are disappointed with the poor uptake by patients for the bowel cancer screening programme.

About one in twenty people in the UK develop bowel cancer; it is the third most common cause of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths with over 16,000 people dying from it each year. Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16%. Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms) when treatment is more likely to be effective. Faecal occult blood (FOB test kits) is sent out in the post.

To-date we have had two of our patients within the last year who have been found to have early treatable bowel cancer which would otherwise have been probably not detected until a much more serious and later stage. We strongly recommend that when you receive your invitation to carry out the test each year that you do take up the offer. If you want more information please ask any of the doctors at the Surgery about the programme or go on-line at www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel.

Screening is available for patients aged 60 to 69 and recalled every two years. If you have missed out on your previous invitation, but are still interested then please contact free phone 0800 7076060.

Further reading:

Chlamydia screening programme
Monday, 4th January 2010