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GPs encourage more people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to take part in bowel cancer screening

New videos featuring local GPs have been launched to encourage more people to take part in bowel cancer screening

April was Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and to mark the campaign, the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland issued a series of videos demonstrating just how quick and easy it is to screen for signs of bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and is the second biggest cause of death from cancer. However, it is treatable, especially if it is diagnosed at an early stage. To facilitate early diagnosis, a screening kit is sent to people aged 50 to 74, every 2 years.

Although uptake for bowel cancer screening is increasing, it is still lower than for other national cancer screening programmes, and across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland the uptake is even lower than the national average, especially within Leicester.

Uptake of bowel cancer screening in Leicester varies significantly across different areas and demographic groups. This includes communities where residents do not read or write English, or where English is not their first language. Several parts of Leicester with lower screening participation also have higher proportions of multicultural residents. To help with this, the new videos are available in Gujarati and Urdu, as well as in English.

Professor Nil Sanganee, Chief Medical Officer at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, said: “The test can be done in the comfort of your home and only needs a tiny sample of poo to test for signs of possible cancer. The samples are checked for tiny amounts of blood, which are not visible to the naked eye. This can be a sign of cancer, or of polyps which can turn into cancer over time.

“Screening can help prevent bowel cancer or find it at an early stage, when it’s easier to treat. Taking part in screening is an individual choice, but it must be a choice that’s equally available and accessible to everyone.”

Cllr Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for health in Leicester, said: “It’s very important that everyone in Leicester is able to take up bowel cancer screening. By providing clearer, more accessible information and support, we can help ensure that everyone in our city has the same chance of benefitting from early detection. These new videos are an important step in helping more Leicester residents complete their kits and protect their health.

“We hope that the campaign will result in more people doing their test kits which, in turn, should result in lives saved by earlier detection of bowel cancer.”

Click here for more information, and to watch the videos

The campaign aims to encourage people who receive a screening kit to complete and return the test. By increasing participation, we hope to reinforce the vital message that taking the test could save lives. To maximise awareness, the campaign will use a multi‑channel approach including social media, digital content, printed materials, outdoor advertising and support from key partners.

This campaign aims to encourage more residents to use and return their screening kits, reinforcing the message that completing the test could save their life.

Targeted community outreach will take place through trusted local organisations and will include Q&A sessions designed to improve understanding of the screening process. Engagement activities will be delivered in community centres, places of worship and other settings that support groups who may be less likely to take part. These conversations will help address common barriers such as fear of the results, embarrassment, and misconceptions about the purpose of the test.

A partner toolkit containing a press release, A5 leaflet, A4 poster, social media posts and accompanying images to support communications has been produced.

Click here to download the toolkit.