Screening test saves lives, says Norman

“I know from personal experience that it is essential to get tested for this killer disease before it is too late. I know some people may feel embarrassed about completing the test. I know how quick, easy and confidential the whole process is.

“Now I want to urge anyone who has already been sent a testing kit to complete it. If you’ve not had your kit don’t worry, one will be sent out automatically if you are aged 60 to 74. If you have lost your testing kit call the national helpline to request another one – it could save your life.”

NHS Leeds is co-ordinating the campaign, aimed at people aged 60 to 74, to encourage them to complete the bowel cancer screening test. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer and those at greatest risk are people aged over 60. Screening can identify bowel cancer before symptoms begin, often at an early stage when it can be successfully treated.

Leeds playwright Kay Mellor has also backed the campaign.

“I lost my brother to bowel cancer aged 61. He was such a robust and outgoing character who seemed invincible. He had no idea that he was ill but the doctors said he had been ill for some time. If he had taken one of these tests he could still be alive today.

“It seems to me that bowel cancer is a disease that can fester away for years before it presents itself, so we have to be proactive in screening ourselves for it, in the same way that women are proactive in screening for breast cancer. The test takes little time and is very easy to do yet it could save your life.

“I applaud the initiative of NHS Leeds and their lifesaver campaign – it is so important that people are aware of this disease and the steps they can take to beat it.”

“Our campaign message is really simple – the bowel cancer test is a lifesaver,” explains Dr Simon Balmer, head of health protection for NHS Leeds.

“We are grateful for the support we have from Norman Hunter and Kay Mellor and hope that their personal experiences will encourage others to complete the test as it could help diagnose bowel cancer before it is too late.”

Bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer because many patients are diagnosed too late.

Screening can identify bowel cancer before symptoms begin, often at an early stage when it can be successfully treated.

To date, bowel cancer screening has identified more than 7,000 cancers, and a further 40,000 polyps have been removed, preventing thousands more.

However, the present take up rate in Leeds is about 50 per cent, considerably lower than those of the best national cancer screening programmes.

Anyone aged 60 to 74 is eligible for a bowel cancer screening test. The screening kits are sent out automatically by the National Cancer Screening Programme.

Anyone eligible is sent a testing kit once every two years. Anyone worried about bowel cancer can speak to their GP.

Those aged 60 to 74 can find out more about the bowel cancer screening test by calling the national helpline on 0800 707 6060 or visiting www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel

SIMPLE TEST THAT CAN SAVE LIVES

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme started being rolled out in July 2006 and achieved nationwide coverage by 2010.

Anyone aged between 60 and 74, will automatically be invited to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme every two years.

The test is straightforward to do. You need to collect three sets of stool samples over different days and then return the test to be processed.

A FREEPOST envelope is included to return the test for processing.

You will get the results within two weeks.