SCREENING FOR BOWEL CANCER

A new NHS bowel cancer screening programme for people over 60 is now being rolled out nationally and will achieve nation wide coverage by 2009. As the programme is rolled out, further details of implementation will be sent to local GPs and announced in the local press. Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms), when treatment is more likely to be effective.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. About one in 20 of us will develop bowel cancer during our lifetime but the good news is that if it is caught early enough it can be completely cured.

There are steps you can take to help reduce your risk of bowel cancer. For more information look at the leaflet to the right and visit visit these websites

www.cancerhelp.org.uk

www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk

www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk

Also, if you have a question about the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme you can ring the freephone helpline on 0800 707 60 60.