A patient who feels his life was saved by a simple bowel screening test is encouraging people to act early – by completing their screening test or contacting their GP if they notice symptoms.
Colin Mearns, a photographer from Glasgow, shared his experience after sending away his screening sample led to the early discovery of bowel cancer.
Like thousands of people across Scotland, Colin received a bowel screening test through the post. Everyone aged 50 to 74 is invited to take part every two years, and the test takes just a couple of minutes to complete and return.
For Colin, those few minutes were life‑changing. Because his cancer was found early, he was able to have surgery at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to remove the affected part of his bowel, and he is now cancer free.
“I had no idea anything was wrong,” Colin said. “If I hadn’t done the test and sent it back quickly, my cancer might not have been picked up until much later.
“Hearing the word ‘cancer’ was frightening but knowing it had been caught early made all the difference. Because of that early diagnosis and treatment, I can now look forward to the future.”
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Scotland, with around 4,000 people diagnosed each year, according to Public Health Scotland. However, it is also one of the most treatable cancers when found early. When bowel cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, nine in ten people survive.
This April, during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, people are being urged to be aware of the symptoms and to seek advice as soon as possible if they notice changes.
Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever their age, gender, ethnicity or where they live. Symptoms can include bleeding from your bottom, blood in your poo, changes in bowel habits such as going more or less often or having diarrhoea or constipation that comes and goes, unexplained weight loss, feeling very tired all the time, or pain or a lump in your tummy.
Having these symptoms does not always mean you have bowel cancer, but it is still important to find out what is causing them. Not everyone will have all the symptoms, and they may appear at different times. Even if you have only one symptom, your GP will want to see you.
Dr Alison Potts, Bowel Screening Lead for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said early action saves lives.
“We know that talking about poo or bowel habits can feel embarrassing, but GPs are used to having these conversations every day,” she said. “If you’ve noticed any changes or have symptoms that concern you, please make an appointment with your GP as soon as you can.
“When bowel cancer is detected early, it is highly treatable and, in the vast majority of cases, curable. The earlier it is diagnosed, the more straightforward treatment is likely to be.”
She also stressed that people should not wait for their next screening invitation if they have symptoms. “Your GP may ask you to complete an at‑home test to help decide whether further checks are needed. Acting early gives everyone the best possible chance of an early diagnosis.”
Public Health Scotland data shows that around two‑thirds of people who are sent a bowel screening test complete it and return it.
“People like Colin show just how powerful this simple test can be,” Dr Potts added. “Even if you’ve put it off before, taking a few minutes to complete it when it arrives could save your life.”
Returning a screening test does not usually lead to further procedures. Only around 2–3 per cent of people are asked to have a colonoscopy, and if cancer is found at that stage, it is often early enough that surgery alone can remove it.
For more information about bowel screening or to order a replacement test kit, visit NHS Inform or call the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre on 0800 0121 833.
