As I’m going into my final week in Bowel screening before I start my new job in research, I thought I’d jot a few things down.

In this country I think we are very lucky to have various screening programmes available to us. These are bowel, breast, cervical, AAA ( abdominal aortic aneuysm ) and screening in pregnancy. All free.

In regards to bowel screening,  I always think screening is a win win situation.  Either everything is clear, nothing further is needed and you have peace of mind or a polyp ( a growth in the inner lining of the bowel) or a cancer is found.  Although mostly benign, some polyps have the potential to grow into a bowel cancer over several years.  Not all polyps will turn into a cancer but all cancers will have come from a polyp.  Removing these polyps early will reduce the risk of developing a bowel cancer in the future.

Even if a cancer is discovered, although devastating news, especially if it has come out of the blue,  I do try to turn it into a positive as by coming through screening, the cancer has been picked up earlier than if the patient hadn’t completed the screening kit.  This most certainly would have been worse as the cancer might not have been picked up for months or even years.  Cancers are very much treatable/curable if discovered early.

It’s still unclear why polyps develop but we know increased risks include, age, diet, being overweight, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking and family history.  That’s not to say that young people cannot get bowel cancer, they certainly can, or that people who follow a good diet and exercise won’t get a cancer because again, although a lower risk, they can still get a cancer.

At present, bowel screening is for people from the age of 60-74 and they will receive a kit every two years although people over 74 can still opt in if they wish. The age for screening is coming down this year to 56yr olds and over the next few years, this will eventually go down to 50 yr olds.

Take up of bowel screening isn’t great which is a real shame as it literally can be a life saver.  So why don’t people participate in screening? 

: Some people would rather not know if they have anything.

: Some don’t like the idea of poking a stick in their own poo to take a sample to be checked for blood.

: Some don’t like the idea of a camera entering their bottom.

: Some people really feel fit and well and have no symptoms so don’t see a need to either complete a test or to advance to a colonoscopy . 
 
What I have learnt in the last 6 years is that people can have no symptoms at all, yet still can have a bowel cancer, hence why screening is so important. 

Screening will only work if you let it.  This is by participating in a screening programme.  I would really encourage everyone who falls into any screening category to complete a kit or attend a screening appointment.

If you are under the age of any screening and have any symptoms or are concerned about anything then please don’t sit on them and please get checked out by your GP.  No matter how young you are.

Symptoms of bowel cancer include:
:Bleeding from the back passage or blood in your  poo
:A change in normal bowel habit, such as looser stools, diarrhoea or constipation lasting longer than three weeks or more or the feeling of bowel not feeling fully empty after having them opened. 
:unexplained weight loss
:Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
:A pain or lump in stomach area.  

Some useful sites:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/getting-diagnosed/screening

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-screening/

Looking back, I've throughly enjoyed my time as a Specialist Screening Practitioner in Bowel Screening but I do also feel the time is right to move into research.  Covid has highlighted that research plays such an important role in health care and I feel that exciting and interesting times are ahead.

Simon