Bowel cancer is more common in people over 50 years of age, with 1 in 20 people getting bowel cancer at some point in their lives. Screening aims to find bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms. If bowel cancer is detected early enough through screening, there is a 90% chance of treating the disease successfully. However if bowel cancer is diagnosed at a late stage, the chance of cure is much less.   The bowel screening programme is estimated to prevent at least 150 deaths from bowel cancer each year in Scotland. Other changes in the bowel can also be found, such as polyps (non-cancerous growths). If found, most polyps can be easily removed and often prevent future cancers developing.

Therefore it is really important that all patients who are invited to participate in the bowel screening programme participate in it. We realise that it may not be the nicest of things to do, however, it is a very simple test that could save your life.

Further information on the bowel screening programme can be found at:

http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/screening/bowel/

and further literature on the screening programme can be found here:

http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/screening/overview/leaflets/

The initial bowel screening "your questions answered" can be found here:

http://www.nhs24.com/~/media/nhsinform/screeningzone/leaflets/the%20bowel%20screening%20test.ashx

We would encourage all eligible patients to participate but should you wish to discuss this with one of the healthcare professionals within the practice, please get in touch with us.