Men encouraged to check for bowel cancer

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Men are less likely to seek medical help than women so the Greater Manchester NHS Bowel Screening team is encouraging men to get checked out, as part of Men’s Health Week which runs from 10 to 16 June.

More than 22,000 fathers, grandfathers, brothers and uncles are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the UK, making it the third most common cancer in men. Bowel cancer rates among men have risen by 30% in the last 35 years, compared to 6% among women.

More than 8,000 men die from bowel cancer each year, making it the third most common cause of cancer deaths amongst men after lung and prostate cancer.

But a large number of men in Greater Manchester are still choosing not to take part in the bowel cancer screening programme, even though it could save their lives.

The bowel cancer screening kit is automatically sent to men and women aged between 60-74, every 2 years. People over 75 are encouraged to request a kit by calling 0800 707 6060.

Angela Osei, Health Improvement Practitioner for the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, said: “Detecting bowel cancer early reduces the risk of it spreading and 90 out of 100 patients survive, so it is really important that people return the screening kit when it is posted to them.

“Symptoms to watch out for include persistent diarrhoea, bleeding from the bottom and severe abdominal pain. If anyone is experiencing these symptoms or has concerns, they should go to their GP right away.”

To find out more information about bowel cancer screening, signs and symptoms and ways to reduce your risks to go to www.bowelscreening.org/men.

The Greater Manchester Bowel Screening Programme is a part of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.