A new bowel cancer screening campaign is being launched to encourage people in Greater Manchester to use simple home-testing kits to spot the early signs of the illness.
One in 18 people will get bowel cancer at some point in their lives and the rates are much higher among older people – but with early detection, there is a 93% chance of successful treatment.
Bowel Cancer Screening kits, which detect any potential symptoms and act as a valuable early warning sign, are available to everyone aged 60 to 74 registered with a GP in the region and are sent through the post.
On completing the kit, people receive their results within two weeks and nine out of ten get the all clear.
However, levels of uptake for the tests in Greater Manchester are lower than the national average of 56% with Oldham at 52% while central Manchester reaches only 38%.
To combat this, the Bowel Cancer Screening Health Improvement Team is launching a new campaign called ‘Be part of the Movement…the Greater Manchester Bowel Movement’.
The campaign, which launches on Friday April 24, aims to raise awareness of the home testing kits and potential warning signs of bowel cancer including blood in the stool.
Health Improvement Team Manager Damien Aston, who works for Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, said people were more likely to complete their tests if they knew someone else who had done it.
He said: “We want to remind people to use the Bowel Cancer Screening kits not just for themselves, but for the sake of their partner, family or friends.
“It’s important to note an abnormal test result doesn’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer but by spotting the signs early and getting tested you can drastically improve your chances of making a full recovery.”
The campaign launch will see the unveiling of mascots Dave and Asha, who will be embarking on The Greater Manchester Bowel Tour to further raise awareness of the campaign.
The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Health Improvement Team is funded by Public Health England.
Its aim is to increase the uptake of the Bowel Cancer Screening kit in Greater Manchester through community events and work with GPs and volunteers to increase awareness of the kit.
To find out more visit www.gmmovement.co.uk, follow the team on Facebook at Gmovement or Twitter @Gmovt
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