Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel cancer screening test video

This test could save your life

Barbara Campbell – Bowel Cancer Survivor
This is a bowel cancer screening test.
It dropped through my door. It saved my life. I found out I had bowel cancer.
I’ve had it treated and I’m still here three years later, fighting fit.

Professor Matt Rutter – Tees bowel cancer screening centre
If we find bowel cancer at an early stage, it’s very easy to cure.
But really the ideal time to catch bowel cancer is before it develops symptoms.
So that’s why we have a screening programme.

Rishika Sinha – GP at Kingsway Medical Centre, Billingham
Bowel screening is for people who are absolutely fit and well, and it is a screening programme.
Every two years, we will get a bowel kit and we do it and send it off.

Kelley Williamson – specialist screening practitioner
This is the test kit that you will receive through the post when your bowel screening is due.
Inside this envelope, there is a little plastic tube and some instructions on how to collect a stool sample. You do that in the privacy of your own bathroom.
Once you’ve collected the stool sample, you post the sample back to our laboratory where it’s tested, and if there’s a trace of blood in it we’ll invite you to speak to one of our very supportive and friendly specialist screening practitioners.

Having a bowel cancer screening test reduces your risk of dying from bowel cancer by 25%
Everyone aged 50 to 74 years old is eligible for a test every two years.

Abdul – Patient, Tees bowel cancer screening centre
Also, I advised all my friends, to get it done, you know, when they send you the leaflet at home, you know, for the test, do it.
Don’t just ignore it. It’s for your own benefit, you know, it helps.
For more information about bowel cancer screening call our free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

Barbara Campbell – Bowel Cancer Survivor
If this comes through your letterbox, please don’t ignore it. It could save your life. It saved mine.
Abdul – Patient, Tees bowel cancer screening centre
It’s not every day that an envelope can save your life.
Kelley Williamson – specialist screening practitioner
Remember, this test kit could save your life.
Rishika Sinha – GP at Kingsway Medical Centre, Billingham
If it’s picked up early, then it can actually help with the treatment early and prolonged life, really.
Professor Matt Rutter – Tees bowel cancer screening centre
This test could save your life. Please do complete the test when you receive it.
www.nth.nhs.uk/services/bowel-cancer-screening

We know that it can be embarrassing for people to talk about their bowels. The Tees screening programme is here to help patients to access screening in the privacy of their own home.

If you are registered with a GP and aged 60 to 74, you will receive a simple test kit. The age people are being invited is changing to include those aged 50 to 59, so you may receive a test kit in the post before you turn 60.

The kit only requires the collection of a small sample of your stool. Using a prepaid envelope, return the sample to the laboratory for analysis. The sample will be analysed for tiny traces of blood and this will indicate whether further tests are required.

The test is designed to indicate the possibility of the presence of bowel cancer and to prevent this at an early stage by removing pre-cancerous growths, called polyps from the bowel. If bowel cancer is diagnosed at this early stage then more than 90 in 100 people will be cured by surgical removal of the tumour.

Once people are aged 75 or over they no longer receive the test automatically but can opt in by calling the free phone number 0800 707 606

Signs of bowel cancer

You should look out for loose poo for more than three weeks or blood in your poo.

You can help yourself by:

cutting down on smoking and drinking
making sure you have a healthy diet

It’s vital not to ignore the warning signs of bowel cancer. Don’t wait for screening if you have symptoms. However, if you have no symptoms and are offered bowel screening, it is important to take advantage of the test. A couple of minutes of your time could save your life.

Contact

Tees Bowel Screening Service

University Hospital of North Tees
Stockton

01642 383981

Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Useful links

There is a lot of information available about bowel cancer, but we would advise a note of caution when conducting internet searches for information.

A lot of the content available through popular search engines are produced in countries other than the UK, it may not be based on robust research and some has been made by those with a commercial interest in particular treatments. If you do want to discuss any of the information you find online, please don’t hesitate to your Bowel Screening Practitioner or the medical team providing your care.

The following websites are used regularly by medical staff and provide a wide range of information supported by recognised research methods:

GOV.UK – Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Overview

GOV.UK provides an overview of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme including patient leaflets in a number of different formats and languages.

GOV.UK Website

Bowel Cancer UK

Bowel Cancer UK is the largest UK bowel cancer charity. Their site provides information about bowel cancer research, treatment and other ways the organisation support people with bowel cancer. They have a range of information online and a number of publications you can order.

Bowel Cancer UK

Macmillan UK

Macmillan offer a range of online information and publications about bowel cancer.

Macmillan UK Website

NHS Choices

The NHS Choices website offers a wide range of information about health matters and NHS services. It includes sections on the screening programme, bowel cancer and the treatments available.

NHS Choices Website

Cancer Research UK

The site covers all aspects of research into cancer, as well as a section looking more specifically at bowel cancer. Bowel cancer statistics for your local area can also be viewed.

Cancer Research UK Website