Bowel Cancer Screening
Bowel cancer is a common type of
cancer in both men and women. About 1 in 20 people will get it
during their lifetime. You may feel fit and well on the outside but
you can’t always tell what’s happening on the inside.
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.
When is it offered?
NHS Bowel Cancer Screening is only offered to people aged 55 or
over, as this is when you're more likely to get bowel cancer.
- If you're 55, you'll automatically be invited for a one-off
Bowel Scope Screening, if it's available in your area - Dorset has
now fully rolled out the Bowel Scope Screening programme (April
2018).
- If you're 56-59 and have not been automatically invited for
Bowel Scope Screening but would like to participate, please ring
our Southern helpline on 0800 707 60 60 and ask to self-refer.
- If you're 60 to 74, you'll automatically be sent a Home Test
Kit to complete every 2 years.
- If you're 75 or over, you can request a home test kit every 2
years by calling the free Bowel Cancer Screening helpline on 0800
707 60 60
If you're too young for screening but are worried about a family
history of bowel cancer, speak to your GP for advice.
Always see a GP if you have symptoms which are worrying you,
whatever your age – don't wait to have a screening test.
Screening centres
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. Bowel scope screening is also offered
at Victoria Hospital, Wimborne and Swanage Community
Hospital.
Types of screening test
There are two types of test used in NHS bowel cancer
screening:
- Bowel Scope Screening – a test where a thin, flexible tube with
a camera at the end is used to look for and remove any polyps
inside your bowel. This is a one-off test offered for GP registered
men and women in Dorset aged 55. If you are aged 55-60 and
missed out on bowel scope screening, you can opt-in by calling 0800
707 60 60.
- Home Test Kit – a kit you use to collect small samples of your
poo and post them to a laboratory so they can be checked for tiny
amounts of blood (which could be caused by cancer) If these tests
find anything unusual, you might be asked to have further tests to
confirm or rule out cancer. These are offered to all GP-registered
men and women aged between 60-74 in Dorset 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.
Further information
Visit the NHS
Choices or Bowel Cancer UK
To talk to a Bowel Cancer Screening Programme advisor, telephone
the Southern Hub on 0800 707 60 60.
To contact the Dorset Bowel Cancer Screening Programme,
telephone 01202 44 8751.