Bowel scope cuts cancer risk for at least 17 years

A one-off screening test reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer by more than one third and could save thousands of lives, a study has found. Researchers based at Imperial College London found that the test - which examines the lower part of the large bowel - prevented more than half of potential bowel cancers from developing in that area and two thirds of deaths were avoided. Bowel scope uses a tiny camera attached to a thin flexible tube to examine a specific part of the bowel but was still found to prevent 35 per cent of bowel cancers overall and to prevent 40 per cent of deaths. "We know the bowel scope test has huge benefits for older people," said Professor Wendy Atkin , from Imperial's Department of Surgery and Cancer, who led the study. "Although no screening test is perfect, this study shows that bowel scope is effective in reducing cancer deaths for at least 17 years. "Bowel cancer can be prevented. And the bowel scope screening test is a great way to reduce the number of people diagnosed with the disease so it's vital that no one misses out on the opportunity to get the test." - STOPPING CANCER BEFORE IT STARTS.