On Tuesday (June 28) it was announced that Dame Deborah James sadly died aged 40 from bowel cancer.
The podcaster, blogger, broadcaster and former teacher was diagnosed in 2016 however in May of this year, Deborah said she had stopped active treatment and was instead receiving end-of-life care at her parents' home. Her husband Sebastien and their two children were by her side.
Bowel cancer can start in the large bowel (colon cancer) or back passage (rectal cancer) and is also referred to as colorectal cancer. Since her passing, people have now been searching bowel cancer and the screening process in Scotland.
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According to NHS Inform, half a million people in Scotland carry out a bowel screening test each year and if caught early enough, you're 14 times more likely to survive. So with more people keen to know about cancer and the screening process, here's everything you have to know.
Who is eligible for bowel screening?
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Scotland with around four thousand people in the country said to be diagnosed with it every year. Screening is offered to people between the ages of 50 to 74.
In a warning on their website they wrote: "You may not receive your kit on the expected date. This is because there was a pause in the bowel screening programme because of the pandemic.
"Invitation dates have been moved back to make sure everybody can be screened. For example, if you expected your kit in September 2021, you’ll now receive it in April 2022. After this, your invitation will return to a 2 year cycle and your next invitation would be April 2024. This is to make sure everyone receives their kit in turn and that no one is missed."
What happens during a bowel screening?
Every two years individuals are invited to take a simple test which involves a person taking a sample of their poo. The test looks for hidden blood which could indicate there you have a higher chance of bowel cancer.
The aim of the test is to find bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms as well as other changes in the bowel. This can include pre-cancerous growths called ‘polyps’ of which most can be removed easily and thus preventing cancer from developing.
How to request a bowel screening in Scotland
You can request a bowel screening here through the NHS Inform website.
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
Symptoms can include a change in your normal bowel habit or blood in your poo. They can also be symptoms for other conditions and doesn't automatically mean cancer however people should still contact their GP as soon as they notice this.
The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can include:
- Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal bowel habit, such as looser poo, pooing more often or constipation
- A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or tummy (abdomen), more commonly on the right side
- A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you need to poo), even after opening your bowels
- Losing weight
- Pain in your abdomen or back passage
- Tiredness and breathlessness caused by a lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)
In some instances, cancer can block the bowel which if called a bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction is an emergency. You should see your doctor quickly or go to A&E at your nearest hospital if you think you have a bowel obstruction.
Symptoms include:
- Cramping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
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