April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and to mark this, Dr William Dickey, Clinical Lead in Gastroenterology and Endoscopy with the Western Trust is encouraging eligible members of the public to participate in the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
Dr Dickey said: "Bowel cancer is the second commonest malignancy in Northern Ireland, with 1,000 new cases and 400 related deaths every year. Around 1 in every 18 people will develop bowel cancer. However, if diagnosed early the outlook is very good indeed with an over 90 per cent survival rate and the prospect of complete cure. Unfortunately by the time symptoms develop many cases are advanced. The purpose of screening is to detect bowel cancer at an earlier stage."
He added: "Since screening started three years ago, we have diagnosed 49 cases through the programme of whom the majority were picked up at an early stage. I cannot stress enough the importance of early intervention. Unfortunately fewer than half of those eligible in the Western Trust area take up the invitation to be screened."
Aside from the screening programme which targets people with no symptoms, it is important that people know the symptoms which bowel cancer may cause so that they can seek medical advice early The most common symptoms of bowel cancer are: * a change in bowel action, especially needing to go to the toilet more often or having diarrhoea lasting more than a few weeks * blood in the bowel motion * a lump in the abdomen * low blood count (anaemia).
In Northern Ireland men and women aged between 60 and 71 are invited to take part in the bowel cancer screening programme. Those eligible for screening will receive a test kit in the post at the home address provided by their GP. It is therefore important that your GP has your most up-to-date address and correct date of birth or you may miss the chance to take part in the programme.
If you have any questions about screening and what it involves, visit www.cancerscreening.hscni.net.
If you are concerned about any symptoms, please contact your GP.
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