Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and every year it gives us a vital opportunity to talk openly about something many of us still find awkward: our bowels.
I understand the hesitation. Talking about poo is not dinner‑table conversation. But as a GP with a special interest in cancer services, I see the difference that early diagnosis makes every single day. When bowel cancer is found early, the chances of successful treatment are high. When it is found late, the outcomes are far more difficult.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. It affects men and women, and although it is more common in people over 50, it can affect younger adults too. The encouraging news is that bowel cancer is often very treatable – and even curable – if it is picked up early.
That is why the NHS bowel cancer screening programme is so important. Everyone aged 50 to 74 who is registered with a GP is automatically sent a bowel screening test, known as a faecal immunochemical test, or FIT, every two years. It is a simple test you do yourself at home. You only need to collect a very small sample, pop it in the post, and that’s it. The test looks for tiny traces of blood in poo, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer – often before you notice any symptoms.
Across the East Midlands, we have reason to be proud. Around 84% of people invited to take part in bowel screening have returned their test, which is higher than the national target. That is making a real difference, helping us diagnose bowel cancer earlier, when treatment is more effective and less invasive.
But we still have more to do. Every screening test that goes unused is a missed opportunity. Some people put it off because they feel embarrassed, others because they feel well and assume it can wait. I would urge anyone who receives a test to complete it as soon as possible. It takes only a few minutes, and it could save your life.
Screening is for people without symptoms, but it is also important to know the signs of bowel cancer. These can include blood in your poo, a change in your usual bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, ongoing tummy pain or extreme tiredness. These symptoms are often caused by other, less serious conditions, but if they last for several weeks, please speak to your GP. Do not wait for a screening test if you are worried.
As part of wider work to diagnose cancer earlier, we are also investing in better access to tests through community diagnostic centres and new screening initiatives. But none of this works without people taking that first step.
So this April, I am encouraging everyone to do three things: complete your bowel screening test if you are invited; contact your GP if you notice worrying symptoms; and talk to friends and family about why screening matters. A simple conversation or a gentle nudge could make all the difference.
Talking about poo might feel uncomfortable. But if it helps even one more person get an early diagnosis, it is absolutely worth it.
