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DOCTORS in Radnorshire are urging their patients to attend bowel cancer screening sessions in a bid to save lives.
From this October, the Bowel Screening Wales programme has begun inviting people aged 58 and 59 for the first time for bowel cancer screening. The programme will continue to invite those aged 60 to 74 who are currently eligible.
Evidence shows that screening people at a younger age would enable more bowel cancers to be picked up at an earlier stage, where treatment is likely to be more effective and survival chances improved.
Both men and women, aged 58 to 74, will be invited for bowel screening with a free NHS test kit sent to their homes every two years.
Bowel Screening Wales now uses the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit which is easier for people to use and only one poo sample is needed. Invitations and test kits are sent by post to their home and participants are asked to complete the test kit and return it to Bowel Screening Wales in the pre-paid envelope using the Royal Mail postal system.
A Knighton GP spokesperson said: “It is key that as many people as possible take part and return the test kits. An early indication of bowel cancer can save lives.
“Bowel screening reduces the risk of people dying from bowel cancer, and people taking part will allow us if needed to offer further investigation or treatment. This year, you are now able to have bowel screening from the age of 58.
“I would encourage anyone who receives a testing pack to read the information pack that comes with your test kit carefully. The more people who take part, the better chance we have of identifying and supporting people with bowel cancer.”
Dr Sharon Hillier, director for screening at Public Health Wales, added: “Our screening programmes in Wales continue to recover following the impact of the pandemic and we are pleased that we are now able to start to offer younger people bowel screening.
“Bowel screening reduces the risk of people in Wales dying from bowel cancer and every year the programme tests over 150,000 kits. From these we are able to identify hundreds of participants who can be offered further investigation or treatment.
“I would encourage those newly eligible to read the information pack that comes with your test kit carefully, to help you make an informed choice on taking part in bowel screening.”
Health minister Eluned Morgan said: “I would encourage everyone who is eligible – especially all those who are being invited to take part for the first time – to take part. It’s a simple test to do, and there’s plenty of information in the test kit.
“Taking part in screening programmes is one of the things we can do to look after our health.”
