April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the NHS in the South West is reminding people to complete and return their bowel cancer screening test as soon as it arrives.  

Bowel cancer screening tests are sent for free in the post to everyone aged 50 to 74 who is registered with a GP. The test can be done at home, using the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit which is supplied. The kit looks for tiny traces of blood in a sample of poo, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer. 

It only takes a few minutes to complete and can help to spot signs of bowel cancer at an earlier stage, and can even detect precancerous changes, helping to prevent cancer before it occurs.  

Dr Julie Frier, Consultant in Public Health Screening and Immunisation Lead at NHS England South West, said: “Bowel screening saves lives. It’s quick and it can be done in the privacy of your own home. 

“If you’re aged between 50 to 74 years old a free bowel screening test kit will be sent to your home. Don’t put it off. 

“As the programme marks its 20th anniversary this year, we’re asking everyone who receives a kit to complete it and return it as soon as they can – it could be the most important post you’ll receive.” 

Grace, 54, from the South West, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer, said: “I feel truly blessed that the screening age was lowered – from 60 to 50 – I’m 54 and I truly believe that if I continued to have no symptoms, by the time I got to 60 in 6 years’ time, I think things would have escalated. 

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis was hugely shocking. I never thought it would happen to me. I think the hardest part was having to tell my family, my husband and my sons. 

“If the test comes through the door, do the test. It takes five minutes and it could save your life.” 

Bowel screening is offered to people without symptoms and throughout 20 years of the NHS Bowel Screening Programme, it has helped to catch 70,000 cases of bowel cancer nationally.  

However, bowel cancer is still one of the most common cancers in the UK, so as well as completing your bowel cancer screening kit, it is important you are aware of the signs and symptoms. If you notice any changes that are unusual for you and do not go away, it’s important to contact your GP practice.  

These include:  

• changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you 

• needing to poo more or less often than usual for you 

• blood in your poo, which may look red or black 

• bleeding from your bottom 

• often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet 

• tummy pain 

• a lump in your tummy 

• bloating 

• losing weight without trying 

• feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer  

Bowel screening is automatically offered to everyone aged 50 to 74 who are registered with a GP. People aged 75 and over can still take part by requesting a kit every 2 years by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060. People without a fixed location can also request a bowel screening kit to be sent to their GP – speak with your GP for more information.