UK citizens between the age of 55 and 59 will be encouraged to take a test in order to reduce the possibilities of getting bowel cancer. This new test could be the one that can help save more than 3,000 lives each year. The UK National Screening Committee acknowledged the need for such a test and ensured a green light for it to be placed in the NHS program.
The new technology involves a very thin tube that can be introduced in the rectum to help the doctor see the bowel’s wall. With this exam available, a medic can then remove any possibilities of cancer triggering polyps by removing them. There were about 40, 000 cases of bowel cancer registered in the UK per year, of which 16, 000 are lethal. The one-off FS screening method is known to minimize the risk of getting bowel cancer by 33% and the risk of death by 43%.
A representative from the Department of Health mentioned that the FS test will work in unison with the FOB test, saying:
We will pilot inviting men and women aged around 55 for FS. They will then be invited to complete FOB kits every two years from age 60, as is currently available.
Bowel cancer is the third largest cause of cancer across the UK, and is considered to be the second of most prolific killers.
Dafydd Jones got bowel cancer at the age of 26 and got rid of it just two years later. He believes that there people should be more aware of this type of cancer. Mr. Jones thinks that “…anything that speeds up detection is massively welcome because it will save lives.”
He made a statement for Sky News Online saying:
I always thought it was something that affects older people, but I was wrong.
UK’s government wants to make a 4 year investment of £60 million just for the new cancer screening.
