Bowel Cancer

 

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Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer: What you need to know

Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK and is treatable especially if diagnosed early. When diagnosed at its earliest stage, more than 9 in 10 (92%) people with bowel cancer will survive their disease for five years or more, compared with 1 in 10 (10%) people when the disease is diagnosed at the latest stage.

It’s more common in older people, but adults of any age can develop bowel cancer.

In England, Wales & Northern Ireland people aged 60-74 should be automatically invited to take part in bowel screening every two years. In Scotland, people are invited from the age of 50. England and Wales have started to slowly lower the age at which they start inviting people for bowel screening and so people under 60 may receive an invitation. But most people with bowel cancer are diagnosed outside of cancer screening, often as a result of a referral from their GP or following an emergency presentation.

Please speak to your GP immediately if you are worried about any symptoms.  An early bowel cancer diagnosis can make all the difference.

 

Published: May 17, 2022