A NEW health service making it easier for people in their forties to get checked for bowel cancer has launched in Bridgwater to tackle high rates in the area. 

The new self-referral service is open exclusively to people aged 40-49 and who are registered with a local GP in Somerset.

Data from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust shows there are younger people being diagnosed with late-stage bowel cancer in Somerset, with the highest proportion being in the Bridgwater area.

The pilot scheme will be made available to people in Bridgwater and surrounding areas in several ways, including at supermarket pop-ups, local businesses, workplace events (including Hinkley Point C) and localised advertising placements.

Patients can text, for free, the word ‘poo’ to 82228 or visit our website to access the self-referral form: https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/cancer/somerset-bowel-service/

Dr Harry Smallwood, a GP and clinical director for the Bridgwater Bay Primary Care Network, commented: “In recent years, there was a feeling that we were seeing more young people diagnosed with bowel cancer. This was supported by evidence presented to me showing higher rates of bowel cancer in some areas of the county.”

“The new pilot means we can increase access to this simple test and investigate patients faster, while freeing up GP appointments for other conditions.”

It’s a view echoed by Rosie Edgerley, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s cancer programme manager, who said: “Our data showed that there are younger people being diagnosed with late-stage bowel cancer in Somerset, with the highest proportion being in the Bridgwater area.”

“We also know that it can be embarrassing for people to talk about their pooing habits with a healthcare professional, which is why we are working with a company called C the Signs to develop an easily accessible online referral form which checks people’s eligibility and allows them to complete a FIT test, which if positive, will lead to further investigations.”     

Traditionally, people would contact their GP if they had concerns, and they would provide a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) - a test that looks for blood in the poo.

If the test is positive, it will indicate that there is bleeding and further investigations are required. 96% of people with a positive result of a FIT test will not have cancer.

Innovative cancer detection specialists, C the Signs, use its cancer detection platform to develop a first-of-its-kind online referral form which allows people to check their symptoms.

All patients who are eligible will then be sent a FIT, and the NHS team will then ensure that the results of the FIT are shared with the patient, and if required, further investigations arranged.

Every year, over 2,500 people under the age of 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK. It is often harder to diagnose through the traditional referral via a GP, with 1 in 4 people being diagnosed as an emergency, and often at the latest stage.

The main symptoms of bowel cancer include bleeding from your bottom; blood in your poo; a change in your toilet habits; and loss of weight.