Life-saving bowel screening campaign launches in London

Published on: 12 August 2022
“Your next poo could save your life”

The NHS is running a lifesaving campaign across London this summer, to encourage more people to do their free NHS bowel cancer screening test - which can be done at home - and checks if you could have bowel cancer.bowel.jpg

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers and affects 43,000 people in the UK each year. Those who complete bowel cancer screening are 25% less likely to die of bowel cancer.

The campaign, “Your next poo could save your life,” which is supported by the South East London Cancer Alliance, urges people aged 60 to 74 who have been sent a free bowel cancer screening kit to their home address, to use it.

This is particularly important in areas of south east London because the rate of people returning their kits here is lower than other parts of London.

The campaign - “Your next poo could save your life” - aims to increase uptake of bowel cancer screening across London. It is particularly focusing on those who are less likely to do the test:

· Males

· People sent the bowel cancer screening kit for the first time

· People in deprived areas

· People from some ethnic and faith communities

· People with a learning disability

To get the message out, the campaign will feature across London buses, roadside advertising, social media and radio. For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, please visit: healthylondon.org/BCS.

The NHS Bowel Screening animation explains what people can expect when they receive their test. If people have symptoms of bowel cancer at any age, they should always see a GP, even if they have recently completed an NHS bowel cancer screening test.

Simon’s story

Cancer was caught early for Simon Clarke, 67, from London, thanks to bowel cancer screening.

Simon was investigated after his bowel cancer screening test and, in November 2021, polyps – little growths – were removed from his bowel.

He said: “I wasn’t particularly worried. I’ve always had the attitude it wouldn’t be me that gets ill.

“But when they analysed the polyps, cancer was in one of them. They caught it as a very minor tumour, and it hadn’t spread. Without the screening I wouldn’t have known it was there.

“I’d say to other people: use the bowel cancer screening kit when you’re sent it, because if it catches something early like it did with me, it could save your life.”

 

Please see below the NHS bowel screening animation video:

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