Bowel cancer screening: everything you need to know

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, especially in people over the age of 60. In his latest article, renowned gastroenterologist Dr Imran Ghanghro offers his expert insight into this type of cancer, with a focus on what bowel cancer screening entails. 

What does bowel cancer screening involve?

Bowel cancer screening is a national screening programme to look for bowel cancer. Bowel cancer screenings are typically offered to people between the ages of 60 and 74 years old, but there has been a relaxation in the age restrictions, and the programme is now also catching bowel cancer from the age of 55 onwards.

Bowel cancer screening is mainly to look for any pathology that could lead to bowel cancer, especially polyps. Occasionally we find bowel cancer tumours as well.

When is bowel cancer screening necessary?

When you turn 60, the national programme for bowel cancer screening will ask you to provide a stool sample. It is really important to do this and send it back to the hub to be tested. If the laboratory finds blood in your stool, you will be offered a bowel cancer screening.

 If you have noticed any change in bowel habits, such as rectal bleeding or weight loss, you should consider a screening/colonoscopy.

What should I expect during the process of bowel cancer screening?

If your stool sample contains any blood, you will be offered a colonoscopy. The national programme is mainly for people who are asymptomatic. If you have any of the symptoms you should go to your GP and you will be referred to a hospital directly for a colonoscopy

The hospital will contact you, and you will go to the clinic for an explanation of how the colonoscopy will be done. This may also be done through a virtual appointment.

What are the possible outcomes of bowel cancer screening?

Bowel cancer screening is mainly done to detect any reason you may have blood in your stool. One of the main reasons may be high-grade polyps in your bowel. These can be addressed by your doctor before they become cancerous. Occasionally, we will find bowel cancer in patients who are not symptomatic at all. Haemorrhoids and other pathologies may also be found during a bowel cancer screening. 

Dr Imran Ghanghro is a leading gastroenterologist based in Birmingham. With over 25 years of experience, Dr Ghanghro is highly experienced in the treatment of a wide range of conditions. If you would like to book a consultation with Dr Ghanghro you can do so today via his Top Doctors profile