Screening
MAMMOGRAMS – To detect possible abnormal cells which might lead to breast cancer.
CERVICAL SMEARS – Early detection of changes in the cervix.
CHLAMYDIA URINE TESTING – For the under 25`s
ANTENATAL CHECKS – In conjunction with the local hospital
BOWEL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMMES
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England (NHS BCSP) began in July 2006 and is currently being rolled out across the country. It will screen all men and women between the ages of 60-69 every two years and is now fully operational in Hertfordshire. People over the age of 70 can request a screening kit by calling a free phone helpline 0800 707 6060 to register.
Why screen for bowel cancer?
Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16%.
What is the purpose of bowel cancer screening?
To detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms when treatment is likely to be more effective.
How will it work?
1 Eligible men and women will receive an invitation letter which explains the programme, and an information leaflet.
2 About a week later, a Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test kit (which tests stools for hidden blood) will be sent out, along with instructions for completing the test in the privacy of your own home.
3 Once Screening has rolled out in your area, all eligible men and women will be offered screening every 2 years. GPs are not directly involved in the delivery of the Programme but will be notified when invitations for screening are being sent out in their area and will also receive a copy of the results letter sent to their patients.
What next?
Around 98 in 100 people will receive a normal result and will then be returned to routine screening – an invitation for bowel cancer screening every 2 years if still within the eligible age range.
Around 2 in 100 will receive an abnormal result. They will be referred for further investigation and usually offered a colonoscopy (a procedure which uses a long narrow telescope passed through the anus) to view the whole lining of the bowel.
Around 4 in 100 people may initially receive an unclear result which means that there was a slight suggestion of blood in the test sample. This could be caused by conditions other than cancer, such as haemorrhoids (piles). An unclear result does not mean that cancer is present, but that the FOB test will need to be repeated.
Most people with positive screening tests will be found NOT to have bowel cancer and go on to receive a normal result.
Please note:
It is important to remember that an abnormal test indicates blood, not cancer, and can occur for a variety of reasons. It is important to be aware of the symptoms that could indicate bowel cancer and speak to your doctor without delay if you notice anything that is not normal to you.
Bowel Cancer UK urges anyone who is offered the screening to take up this simple test. It has been proved to save lives!