Health & Wellbeing

Cancer of the large bowel is a major health problem in Scotland. It is the third most common cancer in men and women, with around 4,000 people diagnosed each year. The National programme invites all adults aged 50-74 to take part every 2 years. Men and women eligible for screening will receive an invitation letter explaining the programme, and an information leaflet. Thereafter, a test kit is sent out along with step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home and sending the samples to the hub laboratory. The test is then processed.

Previously, those people in the high risk age range (60 to 74) may not have been diagnosed until they had symptoms, at which point the cancer may be more advanced. But by using the faecal occult blood test, doctors can now detect bowel cancer in its earliest stages, giving people a better chance of survival if they are diagnosed with the disease.

The website www.bowelscreening.scot.nhs.uk has answers to many questions that you might have about bowel screening and has links to several other sites with information about Bowel Cancer. Alternatively, you can call the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre Helpline: 0800 0121 833, Available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm. Every call is treated in the strictest confidence. For people who are not yet 50, or over 74, it is still vitally important to be "bowel aware".

You should know what is normal for you with regard to bowel movements and changes should be monitored. Bowel cancer is a lump created by an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the lining of the bowel. You can get bowel cancer at any age, but it's most common in people over the age of 60. It's the third most common cancer in the UK with around 37,000 people being diagnosed each year.

You may be more at risk of bowel cancer if you:  

• have a family history of the disease

• lead an inactive lifestyle

• are obese

• have diabetes.  

The earlier bowel cancer is found, the better your chance of survival. Treatment depends on the size of the cancer, its position and whether it has spread. You may have surgery to remove the affected tissue, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or medicines called monoclonal antibodies. 

Dr Ryan Mehta, Project Clinical Director and Senior Physician at Bupa UK, commented: "It's no surprise that more people are being diagnosed with bowel cancer since the introduction of the screening programme. This is the point of screening, to catch the disease early when you don't have any symptoms".

The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can be:

• A change in your normal bowel habit lasting four weeks or more

• Bleeding from the bottom and/or blood in your stools (poo)

• Unexplained extreme tiredness and/or unexplained weight loss

• A pain or lump in your abdomen (belly).

You might experience one, some, all of the above or no symptoms at all. Remember most symptoms will not be bowel cancer but if you are worried about any symptoms, please make an appointment with your GP.

Up to 31st October 2010 in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme:

• Just under 1,500,000 individuals invited
• Over 800,000 took up the offer and achieved a final result
• Over 1400 cancers diagnosed through screening.