Originally published August 15 2005
People can now test for bowel cancer at home
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Many people are worried about embarrassment when visiting a doctor to test for bowel cancer, but with a new test, people can check to see if they have bowel cancer in the privacy of their homes.
Cancer charities yesterday welcomed England's first home kits for testing for bowel cancer, a disease that kills more than 16,000 Britons a year.
Starting in spring, people in their 60s will receive kits through the post designed to detect warning signs of bowel cancer.
Users will smear faeces on a slide then send the sample to a laboratory for examination.
Pilot studies suggest some 60% of the kits sent out will be used and returned.
In the studies, however, more women took part than men, while those in deprived areas were less likely to take part.
There are more than 35,000 new cases of bowel cancer in the UK each year but if caught early the disease is survived by most people.
The scheme will be phased in over three years, and by 2009 about 2 million people a year will receive kits.
Those aged between 60 and 69 will be invited to help check their health every two years.
Those aged over 70 will have to request the kits.
The health minister, Rosie Winterton, said "the privacy and dignity" of home test kits would help tackle the disease.
Hilary Whittaker, the chief executive of Beating Bowel Cancer, said: "We believe the screening programme will be a positive step in reducing the deaths."
Cancer Research UK also welcomed the move.
Common symptoms associated with bowel cancer include change in bowel habit, bleeding for no obvious reason and abdominal pain or lumps, though mostly these will not signify cancer.
Strategic health authorities will bid for their areas to be included in the scheme's first year, when 25% of those of the appropriate age will get kits.
Another 25% will be invited in 2007/08, then the remainder the following year.
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