By the way ... We need bowel cancer screening at 45

SCREENING for bowel cancer has been one of the great success stories of the NHS since it was introduced more than 20 years ago.

Currently, this is offered to those aged 55 and over — but if recent research is anything to go by, we should be screening people from the age of 45.

French researchers have found the rate of abnormal colon growths that are likely to become cancerous start to rise sharply at the age of 45.

Cancer of the rectum or colon is common and lethal. The current screening process involves checking a stool sample for blood. If this shows blood is present, then patients are referred to have a colonoscopy, an inspection of the entire length of the large bowel using a flexible instrument with a camera, enabling minute visualisation of the intestine lining.

Any early abnormal growths are painlessly removed with the instrument there and then and taken to a laboratory to be studied to check if they are cancerous.

I have dealt with a number of patients under the age of 55 with colon cancer; one was just 28.

Another, aged 48, was diagnosed when the disease had already spread to the liver. These professional experiences have caused me to push hard to make sure that all patients with even minimal visible rectal bleeding undergo colonoscopy.

I also encourage all of my patients to ensure they respond to the invitation for stool tests when they receive it in the post and do not shirk from what might appear to be an unpleasant task.

So now, with the latest data from the new study, I join the clamour calling for screening to be offered to all patients from the age of 45. It is truly life-saving.