Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer screening is offered to people aged 60 to 74 to check for bowel cancer. Screening can help detect cancer at an early stage when treatment is more effective. It can also check for polyps which can develop into cancer.
Why bowel screening is important
Screening is important to try and find signs of bowel cancer at an early stage when there are no symptoms.
This is when treatment can be more effective.
Screening can also find polyps. These are abnormal clumps of cells in the bowel.
Polyps are not cancers but may develop into cancers.
Polyps can be easily removed, which reduces the risk of bowel cancer developing.
Regular bowel cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer.
Further information on bowel cancer and things that can increase your risk of developing it is available at:
Bowel cancer screening programme
In Northern Ireland, you can get bowel cancer screening if you are aged between 60 and 74.
If you are registered with a GP you will be invited to take part in screening every two years.
If you are outside this age range, have a family history of bowel cancer, or are worried about symptoms or changes in your bowel movements, you should make an appointment with your GP.
It is your choice to take part in bowel cancer screening., Being aware of the possible benefits and risks can help you decide whether or not to take part in bowel cancer screening.
Benefits
Bowel cancer screening:
- reduces your risk of dying from bowel cancer
allows abnormalities (such as polyps) found at colonoscopy to
be removed, which reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer
- can be completed at home in private
Risks
There are certain risks:
- treatment might cause complications, for example during or after colonoscopy
- screening might miss a cancer if it was not bleeding when you completed the test
People who may not need bowel cancer screening
You may not need to complete the bowel cancer screening test if you:
- have had bowel surgery
- are being treated for bowel cancer
- are awaiting bowel investigations
If you think you are in any of these categories and you receive a test kit, contact the Bowel Cancer Screening freephone helpline on 0800 015 2514 for advice.
Limitations of bowel cancer screening
A screening test cannot tell if you have bowel cancer.
It identifies:
- who needs more tests
- who does not need more tests
Bowel cancer can cause a range of symptoms.
As the screening test looks for blood, the screening test may not identify all bowel cancers if there is no bleeding.
If you are concerned about bowel cancer symptoms, you should contact your GP, even if your last screening test was clear.
It is possible for cancer to develop between tests.
The screening process
The first step of the screening process is completing a test kit in your own home. If further tests are needed, you may need to visit a hospital.
Screening test kit
You will receive a test kit in the post, so it is important that your GP has your correct address.
The test is done in the privacy of your home. You take a very small sample of poo using the test stick provided.
Instructions on how to use the test are included with the test kit.
A video is also available at:
Call the helpline number on 0800 015 2514 if you:
- have any questions on how to use the test kit or if you should take the test
- if you need a replacement test or return envelope
Post your completed test kit to the screening laboratory in the pre-paid envelope included as soon as possible.
Make sure you seal the envelope before putting it in the post box.
Delays in returning your kit may prevent the sample from being processed.
Do not let anyone else complete your kit.
Helping someone else complete the test
If you are a carer, you should only help someone else to use the bowel screening test kit if they want you to, and have agreed you can do this.
Before helping them you should make sure:
- they have asked for your help
- they understand the screening process (including colonoscopy)
- they don’t have a medical condition which means they shouldn’t be screened
If you take care of someone who does not have the capacity to give their consent to take part in screening, you should speak with the person’s GP to decide if screening is in their best interests.
Bowel cancer screening results
You should get a letter with your results within two weeks of returning the test kit.
Call the helpline on 0800 015 2514 if you do not get your results.
No further tests needed at this time
For most people, the result will suggest that no further tests are needed at this time.
This means that either no blood, or only a tiny amount which is within the screening range, was found in your sample.
This result does not guarantee that you do not have bowel cancer, or that it will never develop in the future.
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and to contact your GP if you have any concerns, even if you have recently completed a screening test.
You will be offered bowel cancer screening again every two years until you reach 74 years old.
Further tests needed
For about two in every 100 people, the result will show that further investigations are needed.
Further tests may be needed if there was an amount of blood above the screening in your poo.
This result does not mean that you have bowel cancer. However, further tests will be needed to look for the cause of the blood
Several things can cause blood in poo, such as:
You will be asked to contact the freephone helpline on 0800 015 2514.
You will be referred to a specialist screening practitioner (SSP) for assessment.
Appointments with the specialist screening practitioner (nurse) may be by phone or in person.
If a telephone appointment is arranged, a suitable time for the nurse to call you will be arranged by the helpline staff.
The nurse may call from a withheld number at the time of this appointment.
This nurse will discuss your result with you and give you details about the next step, which is usually a colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy examination
A colonoscopy uses a very small camera on the end of a thin tube to let the doctor or nurse look for any polyps or signs of cancer inside your bowel.
Polyps are clumps of cells that aren’t cancer but may develop into cancer over a number of years. They can usually be removed without any pain during the colonoscopy.
Any polyps removed or samples taken will be sent to the laboratory for examination
As with most medical procedures, there is a possibility of complications.
If you are offered a colonoscopy you will have an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns with the SSP.
Treatment after the colonoscopy
If you need further treatment, you will be sent to whichever specialist is right for you.
For example, if polyps were removed at colonoscopy, you may be called back for repeat colonoscopy in the future.
If the examination detects cancer, you will be referred to a specialist for further treatment.
The person who does your colonoscopy will be able to answer any questions you may have.
Reducing your risk of bowel cancer
Regular bowel cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer.
As well as taking part in bowel cancer screening, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of bowel cancer:
If you have concerns
If you have a family history of bowel cancer, or are worried about symptoms of bowel cancer, or changes in your bowel movements, you should speak to your GP.
Symptoms may include:
- changes in bowel habit from your normal routine
- blood in your poo/ bowel motion
- losing weight for no obvious reason
- bloating
- a pain or lump in your tummy
- feeling more tired than usual
Bowel cancer screening is not a test for symptoms.
If you have any of these symptoms for three weeks or more, you should speak with your GP who can provide a different test.
This is important, even if you have recently taken part in bowel cancer screening.