Colorectal screening
3.22 Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. If identified early, many people can be cured.
However, it is difficult to recognise as the symptoms are often not reported at an early stage and can be the same as those for other common, less serious conditions such as piles and other digestive conditions. Research in Denmark and this country has demonstrated that screening for bowel cancer can reduce mortality from the disease by up to 15% if performed to a high standard and if sufficient numbers of people are screened.
3.23 A pilot study is underway to determine if screening using the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test will be effective in the ordinary NHS setting and acceptable to the public. Two pilot sites, one in Coventry and Warwickshire and one in Grampian, Tayside and Fife are inviting men and women aged 50- 69 to undergo screening using FOB tests in their own home. If initial FOB tests are positive, people will be invited for a colonoscopy to look for cancer or other small growths known as polyps. Nine out of ten people found to have blood in their stools using the FOB test will not have cancer but another condition such as piles.
3.24 The pilot will complete in 2002. If the pilot demonstrates that colorectal cancer screening is appropriate, feasible and acceptable to the public the government will introduce colorectal screening for all people aged 50-69.
3.25 At the same time research is continuing to evaluate alternative approaches to colorectal screening using flexible sigmoidoscopy, a technique which is less invasive than colonoscopy and which need only be undertaken once every ten years. We are also monitoring closely the progress of other emerging technologies such as CT colography (virtual colonoscopy) and DNA testing of stools.
3.26 Plans to increase the number of people trained to perform endoscopy, including colonoscopy, are set out in chapter 8.
