Bowel Cancer – Don’t Sit on Your Symptoms

Geraldine Kerr, Head of Professional Services for Action Cancer, said:xa0“If bowel cancer is detected in its earliest stages the individual has more than a 9 in 10 chance of surviving the diseasexa0so we want to ensure that the public are aware of the most common early signs and symptoms like having blood in your stools, loose and more frequent bowel movements or pain and swelling in your abdomen for a prolonged length of time. “It’s important to note that there are many other common conditions with similar symptoms that will affect us at some time in our lives, so most people with these symptoms do not have cancer. But if you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms we would recommend you seek advice from your GP immediately.” The Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to men and women aged 60 to 71.xa0 It aims to increase the proportion of cases detected at an early stage of the disease before symptoms develop and when the chance of successful treatment is greatest.xa0 Since April 2010 the programme has screened nearly 200,000 participants and detected nearly 200 cancers at an early stage. People aged 60 – 71 are sent an invitation, information materials and a screening kit so they can do the test at home.xa0 Recipients are asked to collect small stool samples on a special card and send the kit to a screening laboratory which checks for tiny traces of blood. The presence of blood in the stool sample indicates that more investigations are needed.xa0 The results are issued within two weeks of sending in the test. For more information about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer please visitxa0www.actioncancer.orgxa0to download the bowel cancer leaflet.xa0 To find out more on the Northern Ireland Screening Programme please visitxa0www.cancerscreening.n-i.nhs.uk. www.nidirect.gov.uk/bowel-cancer Public Health Agency, Bowel Cancer Screening: The factsxa0www.cancerscreening.n-i.nhs.uk   Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer * xa0 Unexpected, painless bleeding from your back passage, or blood in your stools. If you see blood in your stools, you should see your GP immediately. Finding a little bright red blood just on the toilet paper probably does not matter. If it continues for two or three weeks, see your GP. * xa0 A change in your bowel habit. You may develop loose bowel motions, or you may pass a slimy substance called mucus. Sometimes you may become constipated. Look out for constipation and diarrhoea combined. If you experience these symptoms for more than six weeks, you should see your GP. If you have these symptoms as well as others in this list, see your GP as soon as possible * xa0 Pain or swelling in your abdomen (belly or tummy) * xa0 Unexplained weight loss Unexplained anaemia (thinning of the blood). This can make you feel extremely tired. It is usually discovered by a blood test done by your GP Please note that all these symptoms can be caused by other conditions. For example,xa0haemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and colitis.

Bowel Screening Overview

* xa0 xa0Men and women aged 60 to 71 are eligible for screening

* xa0 xa0These people will receive a letter, a leaflet explaining the test and a home testing kit in the post every two years

* xa0 xa0Recipients are asked to collect small stool samples on a special card and send the kit to a screening laboratory for examination

* xa0 xa0If blood is found in the sample you will be invited for more tests. Blood in your stools does not always mean cancer

* xa0 xa0The results are issued within two weeks of sending in the test

* xa0 xa0Around 98 in 100 people will receive a normal result

* xa0 xa0Research shows that regular bowel cancer screening reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16%.

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xa02013 marks Action Cancer’s 40th anniversary – 40 years spent working to save lives and support the people of Northern Ireland.xa0 Since its foundation, Action Cancer has screened over 140,000 women for breast cancer. The charity relies heavily on donations from the public and business communities in Northern Ireland to provide its range of vital, life-saving services including digital breast screening services (40-49 and 70+), MOT health checks, counselling, life coaching, complementary therapies, Listening Ear Service and health promotion. Services are available regionally onboard the Big Bus and at Action Cancer House in Belfast.]]>