It’s the third most common cause of cancer in the Island with around 55 new cases diagnosed every year but doctors say it’s treatable in nine out of ten cases if it’s caught early.

Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr David Ng said: “1 in 17 people will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime. The good news is that if bowel cancer is caught in its early stages then the prognosis is over 95% 5 year survival, and that is what bowel cancer screening is doing. And when a polyp (precancerous growth) is found and removed, this should prevent bowel cancer from occurring.”

“There is no need to be embarrassed to talk to your GP if you have noticed any change in your bowel habits. It’s important that you get to know what bowel habits are normal for you so you can spot any changes. These include:

•           a change in bowel habit lasting for three weeks or more, especially to looser or runny poo, which needs to be checked by a doctor

•           other symptoms to check for are any signs of bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo

•           unexplained weight loss

•           extreme tiredness for no obvious reason

•           a pain or lump in your tummy

“Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should go and see their GP as soon as possible. The longer you leave it, the bigger the problem becomes, so we urge people to seek help early.”

The health department says more of us are now surviving bowel cancer in the Island, 78% of women with it are surviving the disease five years after diagnosis and the five-year survival rate among men is up from 72% a decade ago to 82%.

Everyone during their 60th birthday year is sent an invite for a free bowel screening test and Health says there’s been a 70% take up rate since the programme was launched in 2013 with seven cases of bowel cancer detected.

The screening programme uses the flexi-sig test to look for polyps which are growths in the bowel that are harmless at first but can sometimes develop into cancer if they’re not removed.

Dr Ng said: “Too few people talk about bowel cancer and it is still considered a taboo by many. Sometimes embarrassment can even stop people from getting the help they need. But if bowel cancer is caught early, it can be treated and, in most cases, cured, so it’s vital you don’t ignore your symptoms.

“As well as looking out for signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, Islanders can help reduce their chances of getting bowel cancer by making small changes to their lifestyle like improving their diet (such as eating more fruit and vegetables), exercising more and stopping smoking. All these things will help lower your chances of developing the condition.”

Health Minister Andrew Green said: “Bowel screening is an important issue, and a swift, practical way to ensure that you are healthy. I’d recommend any Islander who is sent a letter inviting them for a free bowel screening test to take up the appointment. It is a simple check which could save your life.”