Sponsored by
Home kit warns of bowel cancer
OLDER people in South Tyneside are being urged to take a potentially life-saving cancer test.
NHS South of Tyne and Wear, which covers the borough, is asking people take up an invitation for a bowel cancer screening project.
The screening, which allows cancers to be detected at an early stage by taking a simple test at home, is available for men and women aged 60 to 69.
Bowl cancer caused 162 deaths in South Tyneside between 2004 and 2006.
This works out at 10.4 per cent of all cancer deaths.
The initiative co-incides with Beating Bowel Cancer's Be Loud Be Clear week.
Chairwoman of the cross locality cancer strategic planning group Nonnie Crawford said: "By detecting bowel cancers at an early stage, screening ensures a better chance of effective treatment.
"It is a simple test done in the privacy of your own home, which could prove life-saving."
Men and women eligible for screening and registered with a GP receive an invitation letter explaining the programme and an information leaflet.
About a week later, a test kit is sent out along with step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home and sending the samples to a laboratory.
The test, which takes just seconds to complete, is then processed and the results are sent out within two weeks.
Ms Crawford said: "About 98 in 100 people will receive a normal result and will then be invited for routine bowel cancer screening every two years if still within the eligible age range.
"About two in 100 people will receive an abnormal result. They will be referred for further investigation.
"About one in 10 people who undergo this stage will be found to have cancer."
Symptoms of the disease include bleeding, a persistent change in bowel habit, especially going to the toilet more often or experiencing looser stools for several weeks, abdominal pain, especially if severe, a lump in the stomach, weight loss and tiredness.
If symptoms persist for more than four weeks, a GP should be called.
For more information, and for those over 70 who want a test kit, call 0800 707 60 60 or visit www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk
Email to a friend
Print this page- Transfer Rumours update May 16: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, QPR, Manchester City, Swansea
- Transfer Rumours update May 15: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, LIverpool, West Brom, Birmingham, Bolton
- Transfer Rumours May 17: Sunderland, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Manchester City, Manchester United, Fulham, Huddersfield
- Transfer Rumours May 15: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, LIverpool, West Brom Birmingham
- Transfer Rumours update May 14: Sunderland, Newcastle, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Middlesbrough, Tottenham, Derby, Burnley, Portsmouth, Tottenham
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Jarrow
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
