Screening for Bowel and Gut Cancer

Why Bowel Cancer Screening Matters

Bowel (colorectal) cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK. It affects both men and women and becomes more common with age, particularly after 50. The good news is that bowel cancer is highly treatable when detected early. In fact, early-stage detection dramatically improves survival rates, often allowing curative treatment with less invasive options.

Screening for bowel and gut cancer plays a crucial role in identifying cancer or precancerous changes (polyps) before symptoms even appear. By removing these polyps during screening, the risk of developing bowel cancer is significantly reduced.

What is Bowel Cancer Screening?

Bowel cancer screening involves checking the bowel for early signs of cancer or pre-cancerous changes. This can be done through:

• Stool tests (FIT or FOBT): These detect hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of cancer.
• Colonoscopy: A camera test that allows direct examination of the bowel lining, detection of abnormalities, and removal of polyps during the same procedure.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Examines the lower part of the bowel, where many cancers develop.
• Advanced imaging techniques: Such as CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy).

A colonoscopy remains the gold standard for bowel cancer screening because it is both diagnostic and therapeutic — it can detect cancer and prevent it by removing polyps in a single procedure.