Undergoing early screening for bowel cancer (regardless of any symptoms you may or may not have) can save your life.
There are several simple tests available to check whether further examination should take place. The next stage is likely to be a colonoscopy, but it’s important to remember that most people who have this will not have cancer.
A positive test does not always mean that you have bowel cancer; there are other conditions that could cause blood in your bowel action, and further investigations will identify the cause.
Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Since June 2016, the FIT was approved as a viable screening to check for hidden blood in your stool. It is a good test due to the fact that diet and medicine are not likely to affect your results. What’s more, you only need to send one sample and the tests are now quicker and easier to use.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore these tests. Doing so is essentially gambling with your life. Those who follow this advice, and take the test, often express their relief at being given the all-clear and for those who are diagnosed early, their chance of being successfully treated increases to 90%.
* If you’ve been invited to take part in bowel cancer screening and need more information or a new test kit, please contact: Freephone 0800 707 6060
Results
Results for the FIT normally take two weeks to return.
- Most people will have a normal result which means that no further tests are required. It would be another two years before you are contacted to take another test (for those still in screening age).
- A few people might have an unclear result, in which case they will need to repeat the FIT test again.
- A few people will have an abnormal result, in which case they will be offered an appointment to discuss having a colonoscopy at a local screening centre.
Colonoscopy
In the event that you need further examination, a colonoscopy might be required to examine the inner lining of your large intestine (rectum and colon).
A thin, flexible tube with a telescopic camera known as a colonoscope is used to look at the colon to assess for polyps, tumours, ulcers and areas of bleeding or inflammation.
Bowel Scope Screening
Bowel Scope Screening is gradually being introduced in England and is offered to people aged 55 and above.
A thin, flexible instrument with a camera on the end is used to look inside the lower part of the bowel and remove any small growths (polyps) which could eventually turn into cancer.