Aim to increase early detection of second most common cancer
Hammersmith and Fulham residents will begin receiving invitations to the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. The borough’s NHS Primary Care Trust is introducing the new screening programme, as part of a national roll out, to help detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be effective.
Men and women aged between 60 and 69 and registered with a GP in the borough are being invited to take part. They will be sent a simple test kit to complete in the privacy of their home. This will involve collecting small samples from three separate bowel motions and using a specially designed prepaid envelope to return them to the laboratory for analysis.
People aged 70 and over won’t receive invites automatically but are being encouraged to call a freephone helpline on 0800 707 60 60 and request a free kit.
Julietta Patnick, Director, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, says, “Early detection is crucial to lowering the number of deaths from bowel cancer which is currently the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK. Bowel cancer screening could reduce deaths from bowel cancer by 16 per cent in those invited for screening.”
The test does not diagnose bowel cancer but can detect tiny traces of blood which indicate that further investigations are required.
Mike Wood, Chief Executive of Hammersmith and Fulham Primary Care Trust, says, “I am delighted bowel cancer screening is now available locally. Many people are often embarrassed to talk about their bowels. This unique programme means that they can now access screening in the privacy of their own homes. The test kit is simple to complete and I strongly encourage everyone offered the opportunity to participate.”
A leaflet entitled ‘Bowel Cancer Screening – The Facts’ will be sent to everyone with their invitation to help them make an informed choice about whether or not to take up the opportunity of screening. The leaflet explains bowel cancer screening and the benefits and limitations of the test. Step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home are being sent out with the test kit and further support is available from the freephone helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
The introduction of screening in Hammersmith and Fulham is part of the roll out of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme nationally. The first stage of the programme began in 2006 and it is anticipated that it will take about three years for screening to be phased in across England.
September 7, 2007