We’re delighted the Government has committed to improve bowel screening

This is great a national screening program should see a massive reduduction in the incidence of bowel cancer. i think the free tests are only available if you are over a certain age? If you are younger (but over 40) you should test yourself you can get kits at Boots? or online http://www.checkmybody.co.uk/bowel.htm is one I tried. They aren’t expensive and OK its a bit disgusting gtesting your poo but sometime you just have to take a mature approach things.

My dad and his brother were both diagnosed with bowel cancer when they were about 55yrs..my dad died a few years later with secondary liver cancer..my uncle is still here..my sister and i both go every 3 years to be checked for bowel cancer..it is a bit evasive but so worth while..my sister is 41 and i am 47..we have both been getting checked for the last 10yrs..we went to the doctor with our concerns as we heard it was hereditory in our family..PLEASE ANYONE IF YOU GET THE OPTION TO BE CHECKED PLEASE GO..

My dad was diagnosed with grade C bowel cancer in Jan after doing the home test kit. He had no symptoms so we would almost certainly have lost him if he had not did the test, he is 68. He has had surgery and is almost finished 6 mths of chemo. We have to remain positive that he will get the all clear at some point. I was told that bowel cancer is not classified as hereditory in my dad’s case due to his age. This is still a big worry for myself and sister (40 & 42) and would like to be tested sooner than 50.

I was diagnosed with bowel cancer when I was 52 after having a colonoscopy. I strongly feel that screening should start at age 50 as many of those who are diagnosed at 60+ will have had the disease during their 50s as it takes many years to grow.

Fantastic news
But we need the support of everybody.

Lives need to be saved and with an early detection programme, this can be achieved.

Hi its great news My friend has just been given the all clear after finding out last year that she had bowl cancer. She only found out because the test kit came through and she did it. It should be avalible to anyone and not only bowl cancer

Henry, in regards to your comment “Whilst this means it (Flex Sig) cannot detect some bowel cancers, it also means it is much safer – hence why it is suitable for use in a screening programme.”

A Flex Sig may carry fewer procedural risks but there is also the risk that it will not detect a colon tumour. In my view, that does not make FlexSig a “safer” option for all patients.

Individuals with a strong family history should be offered colonoscopies, not settling for a Flex Sig. Since my diagnosis, my sisters have had colonoscopies 3-yearly.

The reason why this procedure is not offered widely is the risks but also because it is costlier for the NHS.

Thanks for all your comments. There are several recurring questions that we’d like to answer.

Firstly, regarding screening age – we don’t yet know the age at which the Government plans to screen people with Flexi-Scope, nor how this will fit in with the current bowel screening programme (which uses a method called the ‘faecal occult blood test’, or FoBT). It’s likely that information will appear in due course on the NHS Bowel Screening website, or on NHS Choices.

As soon as we hear anything we will, of course, update our websites too.

Secondly, Flexi-Scope, or flexible sigmoidoscopy, is different from a colonoscopy. As Josie71 correctly says, Flexi-Scope does not look as far into the bowel as a colonoscopy. Whilst this means it cannot detect some bowel cancers, it also means it is much safer – hence why it is suitable for use in a screening programme.

There’s more information on different methods of bowel examination on our CancerHelp UK website.

To answer those who asked ‘how to get a test’, Flexi-Scope will be part of the national bowel screening programme, so it will ultimately be something you are invited to have, rather than something you can request. However, if you have a strong history of cancer on one side of your family, it’s definitely worth speaking to your GP to find out if you are eligible for earlier screening.

There’s more information about who is eligible for bowel cancer screening on CancerHelp UK

Finally, if you’re worried about bowel cancer, there’s information on possible signs and symptoms to look out for on our website, including this video. If you notice anything unusual, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. These symptoms usually have causes other than bowel cancer, but it’s always best to get them checked out.

Henry

In Scotland, home testing kits for bowel cancer are sent out from the age of 50 yrs. I am 57 and have had two already, both thankfully negative. A friend, however, had no symptoms but hers was positive and is now having annual examinations to remove recurrent, pre cancerous polyps. She is 54 yrs old. The sooner this test is available in England the better! Also, when will regular PSA (prostate) testing start for men? We ladies are fortunate to have regular cervical smears and mammograms, so men should be given routine screening for their potential health problems too.

I was diagnosed early with bowel cancer 5 years ago with the colonoscopy, which obviously saved my life. I’m now checked regularly as a precaution to make sure that all is ok. Without that initial colonoscopy check, I may not have been writing this blog, so I’m living proof that early detection with these proposed checks, even if it is only the flexi scope, will undoubtably save presious lives.

I am a bowel cancer patient whose tumour was missed during a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy test. My tumour
was higher up in the colon and was detected, much later, by colonoscopy. While the government investment is to be applauded, I feel that it is irresponsible for Cancer Reaserch not to highlight the limitations of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy, which is proficient for lower bowel cancers, not those higher up in the colon. According to the government’s statistics, 25 per cent of bowel cancers will not be detected by Flex Sig. This represents nearly 10,000 patients per year. This is signficant and should be disclosed. Patients should be given impartial information about Flex Sig screening and should not be lulled into a false sense of security by this procedure, The most sensitive test for diagnosing bowel cancer is colonoscopy.

This is very good news, but I think it should be available to anyone over the age of 50 and also to younger people where there is a family history of bowel cancer.

Iam agreeing with Linda Undiagnosed , extensive bowel cancer wrought havoc in our family. Still, years later my sister and I live in fear of this disease and would be so relieved to see a reliable test available to all who may be vulnerable This is such encouraging news.

Great news. Bit late for my dad who died of Bowel Cancer, but good news for the rest of my family who have been told it can be hereditary.

Fantastic breakthrough Cancer Research need to be lobbying parliament to STOP making the process a postcode lottery. We also need more clarity what the process entails and who it is available to please? Otherwise we are talking an amazing breakthrough to a percentage of the population.

It’s very good news. I’d like to see everyone over the age of say 50yrs. being invited for a screening/testing, much like the very sucessful breast screening service now offered and clearly proven to have saved lives- mine included.

This is very good news, but too late to save my dear wife who passed as a result of bowel cancer less than a year ago just before her 70th birthday. I am 74 and would much rather take a positive test of this nature than those involving taking and dispatching samples for testing. Will I qualify for this sort of test.

I have heard that the test will not be offered to those over 70. I am 75 and very fit and active. Bowel cancer runs in my family; my mother was diagnosed age 80, also a fit and active woman and carer for my father, but it was too late although she had been going to her doctor for some time before. I think the test should be available to all if wished.
EH

Distal colitis patients are already screened regularly after 12-15 years of disease onset, by something called flexible sigmodioscopy. Is this the same screening technique, or something new?

This IS good news, like many people with IBS, cancer is always at the back of ones mind because there is no “normal” pattern for us.

I would like it to be offered to people in the 70 – 80’s group also.

I think this is great news would this cover pancrease cancer as well. Cancer runs in my family i have had my grand-mother,my mother, 2 aunties, & brother. granmother & brother who was young have passed away. So would i be eligable for a screen testing & how would i go about it. i already had breast screening as i am over 50.

Hi Thats good news…How do I get the test? It’s not clear in the publicity, who do I contact?

Regards Rob

Fantastic news! alas not in time to save my husband who died from bowel cancer 4 years ago. However, good news for our children who hopefully can get screening early on.

Just been diagnosed with bowel cancer not yet sure what will be the treatment or what stage it is at but it is a tumour. Had been going to my GP for months with complaints told it was piles, pushed for second opinion, then to be asked why had I not been sooner by consultant, just wish these tests had been available now might have caught it sooner.

iam a 65 yrs old lady. i have not had my bowel screening kit yet, all my friends have had it
my birthday is 29/11/44 i have ranf several times
they said i would have it in sept. but i havent
mrs m povey

This is fantastic news, about time to. I had Bowel cancer at the young age of 29, so it can effect younger people too. I am now 13 yrs clear of the disease thanks to catching it early myself. Bowel screening will help more people like me survive Bowel Cancer with screening. I go for a Colonoscapy every 5 yrs, nothing too it, a little uncomfortable, but its worth the reassurance that everything is normal, and you can get back to living your life, Worry free.

Brilliant news. How can we get screened early? Bowl cancer in the family.

two of my friends were offered the test in 2008/09 in West Sussex. Although they had no symptoms they each took it and were found to be suffering bowel cancer. They have both been treated and are, hopefully, clear now. At what ages is it proposed that testing will be brought in for all?

This test saved my Dad’s life – thank God for the test :) as he had absolutely no signs or symptoms of bowel cancer, and only took the test to please his wife.

i think it is a must with so many people dying of the great big (c)now is the time to get the ball rolling

great news

It has to be a good thing anything tnhat get you an early warnng must help . it is the stages that you need to be aware of ie T1 T2 T3 T4. i was told that i had a T3 and had the op to remove it .The higher the number the more serious it is . dont leave it It does not stop there they tell you it can come back anytime in the next 5 years its like living with a time bomb

This is great news. Who would be tested?

I agree with Joanna that this screening, whilst very good news, should start earlier – I would suggest 50 years old. Also I would like to see it being brought in faster and not being a ‘Post Code’ lottery treatment. I am 100% in favour of this screening for bowel cancer – the 3rd most common cancer – so lets bring it on, and quickly!!!

Wonderful news if it will really happen. At the moment Sussex is doing testing – well that is what I thought. Several of my friends have had it done but asking at my GP surgery if I could I was told that “my part of Sussex” was not included. My friends did not have to ask, they were invited. One of them was found to have bowel cancer although she had no symptons at all. Told me to be tested too but I am in the wrong part of Sussex. So again Postcoding. Love to see it happen but am not holding my breath.

This all sounds fantastic. I have been looking forward to hearing this since it was first announced. I just hope it is made available much sooner than has been suggested and that those responsible for the screening programme have listened to all those people who recommend it being offered to everyone at a much younger age. I suggest 45 to 50.

Hi everyone,

There are more details about the Flexi-Scope technique in this post:

http://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2010/04/28/new-study-marks-major-advance-in-bowel-cancer-screening/

And details about the Government announcement here:

http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/cancernews/2010-10-05-Government-announces-new-Flexi-scope-bowel-screening-test

Cheers,

Henry

Is this another Colonoscopy or a new less evasive technique? Whatever, it can only be good news providing the government make it available by invitation on a voluntary basis.

Great work. Is this possible to roll out in the next few years? Who would be screened?

Fantastic news – let’s keep the pressure up for a speedy roll out! Let’s not forget that bowel cancer is the third most common cancer with over 100 people diagnosed every day.