A new cancer screening test is set to prove popular with the public, according to a study published today.
The new test is set to be offered to all people aged 55 in England and is known as flexible sigmoidoscopy.
It uses a tube and a camera to examine the bowel and allows doctors to remove small polyps during the investigation.
A study of some 1,000 people who have undergone the test found that all but 2.1% were glad they had it. And 97.3% said they would recommend a friend to have it.
The findings are reported in the Journal of Medical Screening.
Researcher Dr Katie Robb, from Glasgow University, said: "The overwhelmingly positive response in our study suggests that people who are invited to have the new test from March this year are likely to have a similarly favourable experience."
Hazel Nunn, of Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s encouraging to see that in this study the vast majority of people who had the test felt, on balance, glad that they had done so.
“This kind of bowel screening has the potential to prevent thousands of cases of bowel cancer each year once it is rolled out."
Patient Pauline Bennett, aged 65, said: "The test was over very quickly and practically painless – just a tiny bit of discomfort. It’s very reassuring to have had the test and know that I’m fine. I’d recommend anyone who gets an invitation to go and have it."
Robb, K et al., Patient-reported outcomes following flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer in a demonstration screening programme in the UK. Journal of Medical Screening, (2012). doi: 10.1258/jms.2012.012129
Leave a Reply