Increased uptake for bowel screening

Bowel Screening uptake has increased by 10 per cent in

Argyll and Bute.

The figures cover January to December last year as part of an early detection programme.

Alison McGrory, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership’s public health principal, said: ‘This report is really good news in that we’re seeing a significant rise in screening uptake. Screening for bowel cancer saves lives, and the test has helped make it easier for people to be tested.

‘The increase in people taking part in screening is really encouraging because detecting cancer at an early stage means it’s more likely to be successfully treated.’

Men and women aged 50 to 74 are invited to take part in the Scottish bowel screening programme by completing a home screening test every two years.

The test aims to detect blood in bowel motions as this may indicate a higher risk of bowel cancer.

People with a positive screening test results are offered further investigations.

The test is completed at home with a kit sent to all eligible adults. It involves collecting one sample from a bowel movement and people who have a positive result are referred to their local hospital for assessment.

Anyone wanting to find out more or who is worried can call a free and confidential helpline on 0800 0121 833 / textphone 18001 or can email: bowelscreening.tayside@nhs. net.

People can also visit NHS Inform website at nhsinform. scot to get trusted information about bowel cancer signs, causes, treating and preventing bowel cancer.

Some risk factors for the disease are unavoidable, such as age, sex or family history, but eating a healthy diet containing wholegrains and plenty of fruit and vegetables, avoiding fat or sugary foods and processed meats, staying active, stopping smoking and drinking less alcohol can all help to reduce the risks.