PHA raising awareness of bowel cancer

Service Development and Screening
BCAM 22

Over 1,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Northern Ireland each year and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is using Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (April) to highlight the signs and symptoms and emphasise the importance of taking part in screening.

“It is important that people are aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer,” said Dr Christine McKee, Public Health Consultant Lead for the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme at the PHA.

“Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer identified in both men and women. It is also the second most common cause of cancer death among people in Northern Ireland, with about 1 in 20 people developing bowel cancer in their lifetime. It is more common in older people, particularly men.”

Possible symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

 

  • blood in your poo;
  • looser poo;
  • pooing more often and/or constipation;
  • a pain or lump in your tummy;
  • feeling more tired than usual for some time;
  • losing weight for no obvious reason;

It is important if anyone experiences any of these symptoms for three weeks or more that they make an appointment with their GP. These symptoms do not mean that they have bowel cancer but it is important that these are investigated to try and find the cause.

Dr McKee highlighted that an important way to reduce your risk of bowel cancer is to participate in the bowel cancer screening programme when you are invited.

“Screening can save lives by detecting bowel cancer as early as possible, giving treatment the best chance of working, so please consider completing and returning the kit if you receive it,” Dr McKee said.

Bowel cancer screening is offered to everyone in Northern Ireland aged 60–74. Those eligible will receive a screening test in the post. The screening test recently changed and so is now easier to use. It comes with step-by-step instructions on how to complete it. Completed kits are returned for free in the supplied envelope. You can watch an animated video which also takes you through the process on both the PHA and NI Direct websites.

The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme identifies who should be offered screening through links with the GP system, so please ensure that your details are up to date with your GP practice.

There are also steps everyone can take to reduce their risk of bowel cancer, in addition to participating in the screening programme:

  • Eat a healthy diet. Make sure you get at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, and include wholegrains, beans and pulses for fibre. Limit the amount of red meat you eat, especially processed red meat.
  • Be active. Moving more and sitting less can reduce your risk of developing serious illness. Aim for at least two and a half hours each week.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid gaining excess weight and try losing weight if overweight or obese.
  • Drink less alcohol. To keep risks to a lower level, don’t drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. Find out more about alcohol units at www.pha.site/FocusOnAlcohol
  • Stop smoking. Your local free Stop Smoking Service can help – find your nearest service at www.stopsmokingni.info

For more information about cancer signs and symptoms visit www.becancerawareni.info    

 

For more information about bowel cancer screening visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/bowel-cancer-screening