43,000 UK adults are diagnosed each year with cancer of the bowel. Between 2016-2020, 5,478 adults in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and West Berkshire were told they had colorectal cancer.
Early diagnosis saves lives
But bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.
Mr David James, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Oxford University Hospitals, and TVCA Colorectal Lead said: “Early diagnosis is the key to curing bowel cancer. The vast majority of people diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer. But this drops significantly as the disease develops. Knowing these key symptoms and if you have them – or if things don’t feel right – visiting your GP, can help increase the chances of an early diagnosis.
“Not knowing the early symptoms of bowel cancer helps make it the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. But if it’s diagnosed early, it’s very treatable – even curable. Early diagnosis really does save lives.”
‘Life Saving Poo’
Test kits for poo (FIT tests) are sent to people aged 60-74 in England, every two years, to check for bowel cancer. This is being extended to everyone aged 50+ years before 2025, so you may be sent a test before you’re 60. If you receive your kit in the post, do it and return it. It could be a ‘life saving poo’, that you do!
“Doing your FIT ‘poo’ test at home and returning it through the post is essential for early diagnosis, even if you have none of the symptoms,” says Dr Anant Sachdev a GP and the TVCA Prevention & Early Diagnosis Clinical Lead. “It’s much simpler to do than you might expect. It’s a quick and simple way to ensure you either get an all-clear on bowel cancer, or a prompt diagnosis so treatment can begin early.”
But everyone should speak to their GP or practice for advice in between if they have any of the five key symptoms for more than three weeks.
Who’s at risk?
Bowel cancer usually affects people over the age of 50, with nearly six out of ten cases diagnosed in those aged 70+. But bowel cancer can affect anyone of any age. More than 2,600 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK in people under the age of 50 [BCUK].
Some bowel cancers can be caused by genetic conditions such as Lynch Syndrome. Lynch Syndrome accounts for around 3-5% of all bowel cancers. All patients should be tested for it when they are diagnosed with bowel cancer. This enables them to be appropriately followed up, and their family can be counselled for testing.
Having close relatives who have had bowel cancer may also increase your risk. So watch out for the five symptoms and do – and return – your screening kit if you receive one through the post.
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