Patients given the lowdown on bowel cancer

Julie Benyon, Bowel Cancer Screening programme administrator, and Audrey Howarth, health improvement practitioner, with an example of the sample pack sent to people.

A specialist team is visiting Rochdale Infirmary to help raise awareness of a life-saving cancer screening programme.

Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the Infirmary, was recently confirmed as a bowel-cancer screening centre as part of a UK-wide programme.

Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with more than 16,000 people dying each year natinonally - however more than 90% of cases could be completely cured if diagnosed and treated in time.

The screening programme is aimed at patients in target groups who are at higher risk. Eighty per cent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are aged 60 or over. The programme will offer bowel-cancer screening every two years to men and women aged 60 to 69, while those over 70 can request screening.

Roadshows on the screening programme have been held at the Infirmary.

Julie Benyon, Bowel Cancer Screening programme administrator, said: "Regular screening can help to reduce the risk considerably, so we are using these roadshows to give a positive awareness message. Bowel cancer is one of the easiest cancers to treat if tackled early enough. The screening programme can help people even before symptoms show, but it's still really important that people know what to look for.

"We have examples of the sample packs, which are sent through the post, and also lots of tips on how to stay healthy and look out for signs of bowel cancer."

"There was a lot of interest and I hope we have increased the programme's profile, helped people spot the potential signs of bowel cancer and, most importantly, encouraged them to lead healthier lifestyles."

Tests for patients living in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, are analysed at Fairfield General Hospital.

The new service, which went live at Fairfield in March, is only the second of its kind in Greater Manchester. Full roll-out of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme will have achieved nationwide coverage by 2009.

Julie added: "It's no exaggeration to say that the new programme will be a life-saver. We hope that when the programme has been fully rolled out for three years, we will see a reduction in mortality from bowel cancer of approximately 20 per cent."

Initial screening is via a faecal occult blood test completed by participants in their own home using a kit sent through the post. Approximately 98 per cent of people will receive a normal result and will be invited to participate again in two years' time if they are eligible.

Those who get an abnormal result will be referred to a specialist screening nurse-led Primary Care Trust clinic where the option of a colonoscopy will be discussed.