Bowel Cancer
Each year, more than 16,000 people die in the UK from cancer of the large bowel and there are 34,000 cases diagnosed. The very high death rate for this form of cancer is because most cases are diagnosed too late.
However, large medical studies have shown that even a single, lifetime examination of the lower portion of the large bowel in otherwise healthy people leads to a reduction in the death rate of 60%. This examination uses a video camera on a tube (known as a flexible sigmoidoscope) and takes up to 10 minutes. Sedation is generally not required and neither is the use of powerful laxatives. The examination is carried out by an experienced doctor or nurse in a well-equipped private hospital and, if a suspicious growth is seen, a biopsy may be taken. In the largest UK study to date, published in The Lancet in 2002, only 5% of people found the test more than mildly embarrassing, 98% were glad they had had it and 97% would have recommended it to a friend.
As a result of the findings, about 1 in 20 people who have a flexible sigmoidoscopy are recommended to go on for a further, more complete examination of the bowel, known as a colonoscopy. This examination is available either on the NHS or privately.
The NHS is phasing in a bowel cancer screening service for men and women aged 60-69 from April 2006. This involves a test to check the faeces every two years for signs of blood. Medical studies have shown that this cuts the death rate from cancer of the large bowel by only 15-20%. It is the poor cousin of flexible sigmoidoscopy.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy costs £295 from New Medical and this includes the cost of processing any biopsy. The service is in the trial phase and expected to be on offer from Spring 2006. It will be offered to men and women aged over 45. Updates will be posted on this website.