To mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Islanders are also being encouraged to make simple changes to their diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of tumours.
In 2018 a total of 685 people attended routine screening, and 62 had polyps which had a high risk of developing into cancer removed.
However, a third of people eligible for the screening did not arrange an appointment – a figure consultant gastroenterologist Dr David Ng hopes can be improved.
The screening, which is routinely offered in the year a person turns 60, is more advanced than that offered in the UK, as polyps which could eventually develop into cancer are removed during the process.
The polyps would normally take about ten years to become cancerous, and so the full effects of the programme – which was introduced in 2013 and aims to halve bowel-cancer rates – are not likely to be seen until 2022/2023.
Dr Ng said that every 30 minutes someone died from bowel cancer in the UK, but added that the disease is treatable if caught early.
He said: ‘It is a simple test and it can be embarrassing but we maintain their dignity. And it is a test that will detect pre-cancerous growths which we remove so it potentially saves them dying from bowel cancer.’
Dr Ng said bowel cancer was increasingly becoming a younger illness and urged anyone with unusual bowel symptoms to see their GP.
He added: ‘Simple changes can make a big difference to ensure you keep your bowel healthy. Things like eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, fibre and limiting the amount of red meat you eat and the amount of alcohol you drink, as well as keeping a healthy weight can all help you keep your bowel healthy.’
To mark the start of the awareness month, members of the bowel-cancer awareness team were today due to give fruit away to people at the Airport in an initiative sponsored by the Co-op.
And throughout the month there will be banners, posters and stickers around the Island and Jersey Post will be franking mail with a reminder stamp.
An advert sponsored by Jersey Cancer Relief and a video explaining what happens during an endoscopy that has been sponsored by the League of Friends has also been published on gov.je.
Assistant Health Minister Steve Pallett said: ‘We are fortunate in Jersey to have effective screening programmes to help prevent disease and ill health. Screening is a huge part of wellbeing and I’d encourage all Islanders to participate in the screening programmes on offer.’
