New bowel cancer kits 'a success'

The new bowel cancer screening has detected 19 people in the Lothians

A new bowel cancer screening programme which can help early detection of one of Scotland's biggest killers is being hailed a success in the Lothians.

Doctors said early detection meant treatment was "less radical and more successful" than if the cancer was discovered at a later stage.

Since the programme was launched in the Lothians in May, 19 people have been detected as having bowel cancer.

Test kits are being sent to people between 50 and 74 years old.

About 8,000 people a month are receiving the kits in the Lothians.

Successful treatment

Dr Dermot Gorman, leading the new screening programme for the Lothians, said: "Our experience of the first few months of the programme in the Lothians show it's paying off.

"Catching cancer early is huge importance in subsequent successful treatment.

"I would urge anyone who receives a postal testing kit to please protect themselves by following the instructions and returning their sample as soon as they can.

"The test is easy to do and this screening programme will continue to save lives."

He added that internal monitoring of the programme showed 19 people are now being treated because they took part in the screening.

He said that previously it was likely they would have remained unaware of their condition until the cancer had developed, causing symptoms such as blood in faeces.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Scotland. Every year 3,500 people are diagnosed with the disease and 1,600 people die from it. Men are at higher risk than women.

The Lothian programme is part of a national bowel cancer screening programme being introduced across Scotland.

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