Why screen for bowel cancer?

About 1 in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying from it each year. Regular bowel cancer screening could save 2,500 lives every year.

Who is eligible for bowel cancer screening?

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every 2 years to all men and women aged 60 to 69.

In the Gloucestershire area 61% of people invited have taken part in the Screening Programme. These figures are encouraging, they are above the national average and we hope as people become more familiar with the service and what’s involved the uptake will improve further.

How will the screening process work?

Men and women eligible for screening will receive an invitation letter and an information leaflet entitled Bowel Cancer Screening - The Facts. About a week later, a faecal occult blood (FOB) test kit will be sent out along with step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home and sending the samples to the laboratory. The results will be sent out to you within 2 weeks.

How does the FOB test work?

Polyps and bowel cancers sometimes bleed, and the faecal occult blood (FOB) test works by detecting tiny amounts of blood which cannot normally be seen in bowel motions. 'Occult' means hidden. The FOB test does not diagnose bowel cancer, but the results will indicate whether further investigation (usually a colonoscopy) is needed.