Bowel cancer screening rises in Wigan

New figures have revealed an encouraging rise in the number of Wigan residents getting themselves tested for bowel cancer.
Health chiefs across Wigan have welcomed a marked increase in the number of bowel cancer screeningsHealth chiefs across Wigan have welcomed a marked increase in the number of bowel cancer screenings
Health chiefs across Wigan have welcomed a marked increase in the number of bowel cancer screenings

Recent statistics show that the number of 60 to 74-year-olds completing their own bowel cancer screenings has risen from 54.9 per cent last year, to 61.2 per cent.

The positive rise was revealed by the Greater Manchester Bowel Movement, a campaign which aims to help people find out more about bowel cancer.

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Similar increases were documented across the rest of the city region, with the largest rise coming in Bury - which saw a change from 54.8 per cent to 61.7.

The figures relate to tests carried out at home by the patients themselves in the privacy of their own homes.

Kits are sent out in the post containing a small card, which residents smear a small stool sample onto.

This is repeated two more times before the card is sealed and sent off.

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Dr Tim Dalton, Local GP and chairman of NHS Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It is really great news that more local patients are taking their health seriously and using their bowl cancer home screening kit.

“Locally, bowel cancer screening is one of our primary care priorities and GP Practices across the borough work hard to encourage their patients to complete the kits, texting, phoning or writing to patients who don’t respond.

“GPs want to support their patients to stay healthy as long as possible and increasing screening means that more cases of bowel cancer are detected early giving their patients the best chance of being successfully treated.”

Dr Dalton added: “If you are aged 60-74 you will be sent a kit for home screening every two years. I know it isn’t fun, but it could save your life so when the kit drops on your doorstep, I urge you to use it and get tested.”

To find out more about testing yourself for bowel cancer, and to get your own free screening kit, visit gmmovement.co.uk.