No Time for Blushes! Hospital Appeal Urges Locals to Take Bowel Cancer Tests

East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire residents are being urged by local hospital screening services to set aside any awkwardness and take the all-important step of getting checked for bowel cancer. This plea aligns with the commencement of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, which kicked off on April 1. Eligibility for bowel screening extends to everyone between the ages of 50 and 74 every two years, as per NHS Humber Health Partnership guidelines. Despite bowel cancer being one of the most prevalent cancers in the UK, only 69% of people are returning their tests, leading to missed early diagnosis opportunities that could be life-saving. Paula Brown, the programme manager at Humber and Yorkshire Coast Bowel Cancer Screening Centre, is encouraging individuals to conduct these simple and painless tests within the comfort of their own homes. The faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which checks for blood in the stool (a potential sign of bowel cancer), can be completed privately without judgement. The Humber and Yorkshire Coast Bowel Cancer Screening Centre, situated at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, provides support and further screening for individuals who show abnormal test results. Further tests may include a colonoscopy to check for any abnormalities. Paula reassures that the highly skilled hospital team is on hand to address any concerns or fears patients may have regarding further tests. She emphasises the importance of initial testing, even though the percentage of those requiring further testing in 2021/22 was just under two percent.