Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (April 2025)
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (April 2025)
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month which aims to raise awareness of bowel cancer and the importance of early detection. Bowel Screening is one of the national screening programmes that NHS Lothian Public Health Screening team oversee. It is important to raise awareness of bowel cancer which can be detected at an early stage by completing the bowel screening test.
You can help us to raise awareness by displaying posters and sharing information with people who will be eligible for bowel screening We have provided some information and key messages that you might find helpful. Please note this document is for your reference only as a staff member or volunteer. It is intended to support conversations and delivery of accurate messages about screeningbut should not be shared with the public as an information leaflet. Public information sources are detailed at the end of the document.
Background
Bowel screening is offered routinely every 2 years to everyone aged 50-74 years. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Scotland. Being aware of the signs and symptoms and completing the bowel screening test means that any changes can be detected early and treated.
| In 2022/24, the overall uptake of bowel screening was 66.2% in Lothian. Uptake varied across areas of deprivation with the uptake being lower in most deprived (50.8%) than least deprived (75%). |
Key Messages
- Bowel screening is a quick and easy test to collect a small sample of your poo that you complete at home. The sample is sent away to be tested for the presence of blood. If blood is found, you will be invited to attend for further investigation.
- The screening test kit will be posted to your home address. Registering with a GP practice and keeping your contact details up to date every time you move will ensure that your test kit will reach you.
- Completing your bowel screening test is important for detecting changes early.
- If you have missed a test or are over 74 years and would like a test kit, you can contact the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre on 0800 0121 833
- Be aware of your body– look out for changes – if concerned, do not delay in getting advice from your GP practice
- Participating in Screening is up to you – make an informed choice – make sure you have enough information to decide what is best for you.
The Public Health Screening Team (NHS Lothian) has developed an easy read website NHS containing information, in multiple languages, on the national screening programmes. This covers all the national screening programmes, what conditions they are looking for and how the screening test is done.
NHS Inform screening pages are also a useful source of information. Promoting these could help to facilitate conversations about screening.
Bowel Cancer UK and Public Health Scotland have videos, posters and social media posts available to download raising awareness of bowel cancer and screening.
The Screening and Early Detection Team has a short promotional “snippet” on bowel screening which is part of a longer video on screening.