About Us

AWARENESS – RESEARCH – SUPPORT – EDUCATION

NHS bowel cancer screening is currently available to everyone aged 60-74 years.

The programme is being slowly extended so that by 2025 everyone aged 50-74 years will receive a test every two years.

For those aged 75 years and over, tests can be accessed by contacting the National Bowel Cancer Screening Service on 0800 707 60 60

The NHS long term plan is that by 2028, 75% of patients with cancer will be diagnosed with stage 1 or stage 2 cancer (cancer that has not spread to nearby lymph nodes or glands or to other parts of the body).

The National Bowel Cancer Audit, published in February 2024, has shown an increase from 35% of patients in 2017/18 presenting with stage 1 or stage 2 bowel cancer and in 2021/2022 had increased to 42%.

At the heart of Bowel Cancer West is the desire to:

Raise Awareness

Raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer. The incidence of the disease is high and awareness levels are alarmingly low. Everyone over the age of 60 is sent a screening test every two years but many choose to ignore this. Discussing bowel habits is also a tricky topic, but together we can ‘combat the cringe’ to ensure everyone has the knowledge they need about this disease.

Fund Research

Continue to fund research conducted at leading Universities to plug a national gap. Our projects are internationally recognised and carefully selected by a Bowel Cancer West grants committee of clinical academics to ensure we remain focused on the right areas

Offer Support

Develop a region wide network of face-to-face support groups, where those living with bowel cancer, their friends and families can meet, chat and support one another.

Provide Education

Provide education for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff, to ensure they provide patients with the best possible care. We train them to diagnose patients effectively and to offer the best support for them surrounding their treatmen

The Future

With your support we can continue to grow our charity, providing the support, research and training that is required across the South West, and reduce the risk that bowel cancer has on the West Country community – helping to save peoples’ lives and increase early diagnosis.

Our expanding volunteer and fundraising network will help us meet our goals, and we are confident that we have the right mix of talent and enthusiasm to achieve this. It’s a huge challenge for us, but with resources continually improving and further funds being donated to Bowel Cancer West from the private and corporate sectors, we are making good progress.

Whether you become a part of our dedicated team or support us financially, you can make a difference, helping us to uphold our commitment to raise awareness of the symptoms.