Flexible sigmoidoscopy

Bowel scope screening uptake increased by more than a fifth (21.5%) when people were sent additional reminders with a leaflet that addressed common concerns.

A one-off bowel screening test reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer by more than one third and could save thousands of lives.

Jogging the memory with a reminder letter to those who don’t respond to their bowel scope screening invitation could mean more people would take the test.

More than half of people invited to take a new bowel cancer screening test didn’t take up the opportunity even though it could prevent the disease & save lives.

Almost everyone (98 per cent) who had the new bowel cancer test – soon to become part of the national screening programme – said they were glad to have gone through the experience, according to a study published today (Monday) in the Journal of Medical Screening.

The government announced revolutionary new bowel cancer screening after a 16-year clinical trial, revealed that it could save up to 3,000 lives a year.