Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

 

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Is your bowel cancer screening kit sitting at the back of a drawer?

If you’re 56 to 74, you should have received your bowel cancer screening kit through the post. That’s because the NHS automatically sends a kit every two years to people in that age group.

Nine out of every 5,000 people who use their test kit turn out to have cancer. But if it’s spotted early, the chances of recovering from bowel cancer are higher.

The test can be done in the comfort of your home and only needs a tiny sample of poo to test for signs of cancer. `So, keep an eye out for your bowel cancer testing kit in the post, or dig out the one that you put away in that drawer and forgot about. And then put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.

Find out more about bowel cancer screening on the NHS website.

 

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer is a cancer that’s found anywhere in the large bowel which includes the colon and rectum. The large bowel is part of your digestive system and helps absorb water from your food and remove waste from your body.  Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and bowel cancer screening can pick up bowel cancer early which may mean its easier to treat.

 

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

  • Changes in your poo (such as softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation) that is not usual for you
  • Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
  • Blood in your poo
  • Bleeding from your bottom
  • Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
  • Tummy pain
  • A lump in your tummy
  • Bloating
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Feeling very tired for no reason

If you have any symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more – see your GP. You should ask for an urgent appointment if your poo is black or dark red and/or if you have bloody diarrhoea.

Published: Apr 7, 2024