Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer screening uses a set of tests to check if you are at risk of developing or already have bowel cancer. The disease is common and affects about 1 in 20 people in their lifetime, especially those aged over 55. Screening helps detect signs of cancer at an early stage when it’s easier to treat. We can also check for and remove polyps (small growths in the bowel), which may become cancerous.
What is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer occurs when healthy cells in the colon or rectum mutate and grow uncontrollably. The main symptoms include blood in your poo, lower abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habits, such as frequent pooing and softer, looser poo. You are more at risk of this condition if you often eat red or processed meats, are overweight, and smoke. Long-term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or having a close relative with this condition also increases your risk. Treatment options vary depending on how early we find the cancer.
Screening for bowel cancer
The three main types of tests that we use for screening include a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), a faecal occult blood (FOB) test, and a colonoscopy. The NHS runs a screening programme available to those 60 to 74, which tests you every two years. However, you can access private bowel cancer screening at any age. We may recommend screening if you have a strong family history of the condition or are experiencing symptoms of bowel cancer.
FIT and FOB
The FIT and FOB tests work by finding small traces of blood in your poo, which may be an early sign of cancer. You can take these tests at home using a kit that you send to a lab for analysis.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy involves inserting an endoscope into your bottom to explore your lower gastrointestinal tract. Our specialist can perform a colonoscopy in 15 to 30 minutes and will take a biopsy (small tissue sample) to check for cancerous cells.
A colonoscopy is a more effective way of screening for bowel cancer, though it is only available privately unless blood is found in your FIT. Read our blog to discover additional reasons to have a colonoscopy.
Your results
You should receive your screening results on the same day in terms of whether there is any cancer or polyps. Tissue samples may take another one to two weeks to come back. Depending on your results, we may recommend further tests to confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis. If we find cancerous cells, we may also recommend tests to stage and grade your cancer, such as a follow-up colonoscopy. However, most people do not need further tests as they show no signs of cancer.
Benefits of screening
The main benefit of bowel cancer screening is preventing cancer or detecting abnormal cell changes early. This is especially beneficial if you are experiencing no symptoms or have a high cancer risk.
If we find bowel polyps, we can remove those at the same time to reduce the risk of cancer developing in the future. There is a strong chance of curing cancer if we catch it early, as it is more treatable, meaning screening can be lifesaving.
The benefit of private screening is that we can offer a colonoscopy without needing a FIT test, which only looks for blood. A colonoscopy also allows us to look for signs of another problem if you are experiencing concerning symptoms.
Risks
With a FIT or FOB test, there is a chance that no sign of cancer is detected due to no blood found. However, a colonoscopy has a higher chance of finding cancer or polyps if it’s there. Another risk of a FIT or FOB test is receiving a false positive result, meaning you do not have cancer but have an abnormal result. A false positive can lead to unnecessary stress and tests.
Cancer can develop over the standard two years between screenings. If you experience new symptoms, you should not rely on your earlier negative result. Contact our specialist to discuss your symptoms.
Risks with colonoscopy are exceptionally rare but those can include causing damage in the bowel (perforation) or bleeding. Bleeding can be treated at the same time during the colonoscopy procedure usually. The risk is even lower if the procedure is done by one of our specialists who have zero perforation rate or bleeding.
Private bowel cancer screening
A screening colonoscopy is the most effective way to find and prevent bowel cancer. If you have a high risk of developing this condition, there is even more reason to reduce your risk with screening.
Our patients often speak of our reassuring, supportive approach at Digestive Health UK, as you can read in our testimonials: Colonoscopy reviews. To put your mind at ease, book a private bowel cancer screening at our clinic today.