English Bowel (Colorectal) Screening Pilot

• How did the pilot work?
• What happens if the test result is abnormal?
• How reliable is the test?

How did the pilot work?

The third round of screening worked in a very similar way to the first and second rounds except that the age range changed. This is in order to bring the pilot into line with the roll-out of the national programme. In the third phase,those aged between 58 and 69 andregistered with a participating GP (general practitioner) based in Coventry and North Warwickshire were automatically sent a faecal occult blood test (FOBt). The test looks for tiny amounts of blood (too small to see) in a sample of the bowel motion. Participants were asked to smear small samples from their bowel motion onto a special card. The card was then posted back, in the specially provided envelope, to the screening unit for testing.

Once the screening unit received the test kit, people were notified of the result within three weeks. Most people (about 98 out of every 100 people doing the test) will have a normal result and not need any further investigations. For more details about the pilot, see the pilot information pack.

What happens if the test result is abnormal?

About 2 people out of every 100 people completing the test will have an abnormal result. Anyone with an abnormal result will be offered further investigations, usually a colonoscopy.

An abnormal test result is NOT a diagnosis of cancer, and can occur for a variety of reasons. Most people will not be found to have bowel cancer at further investigation.

How reliable is the test?

As with all screening tests the FOBT is not perfect. An abnormal test result is NOT a diagnosis of cancer, most people with an abnormal result will not be found to have bowel cancer at further investigation. This is worrying for the people involved, but if everyone with an abnormal result was not offered further tests, some people who do have cancer might be missed.

Alternatively, the test result may be normal when there is a cancer present. This is because not all cancers bleed. Out of every 1,000 people with a normal result, less than one will be diagnosed with bowel cancer within the next two years. If you have a normal FOBT result, it does not mean that you have no risk of developing bowel cancer. This is why it is important that you are aware of the signs of bowel cancer.

To find out more about the pilot please contact the Colorectal Cancer Screening Unit Helpline in Coventry and North Warwickshire on FREEPHONE 0800 783 8042.