Bowel cancer screening programme
Research suggests that over 90 per
cent of bowel cancer patients will survive for more than five years
if they are diagnosed at the earliest stage (Cancer Research
UK).
Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel
cancer at early stages, ideally before people are experiencing
symptoms, and when treatment is more likely to be effective.
The screening centre for the Dorset bowel
cancer screening programme is based at Poole Hospital, with
satellite screening sites at The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset County Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust.
The programme invites all GP-registered men
and women aged between 60-74 to take part in the programme every
two years. Those over age 75 and over can request a screening kit,
if they wish to take part, by calling 0800 707 60 60.
To find out more visit the NHS cancer screening website at
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel or
call 0800 707 60 60.
Test kits
Men and women eligable for screening will automatically receive
an invitation letter, faecal occult blood (FOB) test kit and an
information leaflet explaining the programme. When you return the
test (by post), it will be processed and result sent back to you
within two weeks.
For more information on how to use the kit visit
www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/publications/kit-instructions.html