About Bowel Cancer:
Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer and the latest available statistics show in a single year there were 1,368* recorded cases of the disease in Kent and Medway
Yet, bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.
Throughout Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (April), Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance is spreading three simple messages:
- Look out for symptoms of bowel cancer.
- Return your bowel cancer screening test.
- Attend your colonoscopy appointment.
Symptoms:
More than 90 per cent of people with bowel cancer have one of the following combinations of symptoms:
- a persistent change in bowel habit – pooing more often, with looser, runnier poos
- blood in the poo
- abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating
Screening:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/
Bowel cancer screening is a test you do at home that checks for signs of bowel cancer. It's offered to everyone aged 54 to 74
Bowel cancer screening uses a test called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to look for blood in a sample of your poo. This could be a sign of bowel cancer.
You can also get screening for bowel cancer every 2 years if you're aged 75 or over, but you need to call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060 and ask for the test.
How to get a bowel cancer screening home test (FIT kit):
If you're aged 54 to 74 and registered with a GP, you'll automatically get a bowel cancer screening home test kit (FIT kit) through the post every 2 years.
If you're aged 75 or over, you can ask for a home test kit every 2 years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.
If you do not have a permanent home address, you can ask your GP surgery for your test kit to be sent to the GP surgery or to another address.
If you think you're eligible for bowel cancer screening but you've not been invited, or had your test kit, call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060
