Bowel cancer is the third commonest cancer in the UK. One in every 20 people will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. Over 16,000 people die of bowel cancer every year.
Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying of bowel cancer. Screening aims to detect the bowel cancer at an early stage, before people have any symptoms from the disease. If discovered at this stage, treament is much more likely to be effective and curative.
Bowel cancer screening can also detect polyps. These are not cancers but may develop into cancers over time. They can be easily removed, reducing the risk of bowel cancer developing.
So how do we screen for bowel cancer?
The standard test is called a Faecal Occult Blood test. It works by detecting the minute amount of blood that a bleeding cancer or polyp produces. This is not visible to the naked eye. A sample of faeces is gathered into a special container by the patient at home, the sample is sent to the lab in the ordinary post, the result is sent to us in three working days.
The NHS is offering this test to everyone aged 60-69 years old.......The problem with that otherwise excellent plan is that many bowel cancers occur in both younger and older age groups. Here at Private GP Services we have been offering Faecal Occult Blood test for some years now. The test is relatively inexpensive and is carried out in the privacy of your own home.
How accurate is the test?
Around 980 in 1000 people will have a normal result. Amongst this 980, 979 will be genuinely free of disease. 1 in 980 will actually have a cancer which was not detected on one sample. This is called a false negative result. The correct diagnosis of 'No Problem' in 979 out of 980 people is pretty accurate by usual standards.
20 in 1000 will have a positive or abnormal result. These 20 will need further investigation and will be referred for a colonoscopy (camera in the back passage investigation). Of these 20 who go on the have colonoscopy, 10 will actually have a normal bowel, 8 will have a polyp which can usually be removed at the time of colonoscopy and 2 will have bowel cancer.
So,wouldn't you like the reassurance of knowing that you haven't got bowel cancer?
And, wouldn't you like to know EARLY if you had bowel cancer?
Contact Private GP Services on 01245 234134 for an appointment....it might save your life.......
