Half of UK adults unable to identify a healthy stool and millions have missed a cancer screening
- Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, with 43,000 people diagnosed each year
- According to the new Bupa Wellbeing Index, half of UK adults have never taken up a cancer screening invitation and Public Health England data suggests more than one million do not attend a screening within six months of being invited
- Despite this, over a third (35%) of adults don’t know the warning signs, and one in four (23%) admit they would be too embarrassed to seek medical help for a poo or gut issue
- To provide patients with fast access to cancer tests and treatment, Bupa and HCA Healthcare UK have launched new Specialist Centres for bowel cancer
Almost half (45%) of UK adults can’t identify a ‘healthy’ stool sample and nearly one in four (23%) have never checked their poo.
That’s according to the new Bupa Wellbeing Index which asked 8,000 UK adults questions about their general health and wellbeing. Even though bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, the findings show significant levels of confusion and embarrassment still surround the disease.
Over one in three (35%) UK adults wouldn't know what to look for regarding signs of ill health within their poo, such as lasting changes to colour or consistency. Close to one in four (23%) admit to being less likely to seek treatment for a bowel problem than any other medical concern.
Low awareness
Low awareness of cancer symptoms and a reluctance to seek help has been associated with a rise in late cancer diagnosis. Such is the scale of the issue, more than a third of cancer patients are now first diagnosed in hospital A+E.
To provide patients with fast access to cancer tests and treatment, Bupa UK Insurance has partnered with HCA Healthcare UK and Bupa’s Cromwell Hospital to launch three new Specialist Centres for Bowel Cancer. The Specialist Centres at The Wellington Hospital, London Bridge Hospital and Cromwell Hospital, offer Bupa health insurance customers all initial cancer tests under one roof, within four working days. If needed, treatment is available within 31 days – twice the speed of national targets.
Half (50%) of those surveyed have also never taken up an invitation for a cancer screening. Initially, this may appear understandable as screenings are aimed at specific groups, such as women (cervical screening and mammograms) and older adults (bowel cancer). Yet the data shows that 43% of women and 46% of over-55s have never accepted an invitation for one of these potentially life-saving checks.
Public Health England figures support this. When looking specifically at bowel cancer, more than one million of those invited for a screening in the past 2.5 years didn’t take up the invitation within six months of being invited.
And although the risk of developing bowel cancer rises with age, 24% of over-55s never check the appearance of their stools.
When considering why, embarrassment is a factor. A third (34%) agree poo is a taboo subject. And one in five would feel more comfortable discussing Brexit (20%) than their bowels.
A similar amount (22%), admit they would be too embarrassed to contact a doctor over poo or gut health concerns, while 15% currently are concerned about a bowel problem but have delayed seeking help.
Mr Shahnawaz Rasheed, Consultant General Surgeon at the Cromwell Hospital says: “People worry about a potential diagnosis, but also perhaps worry more about what happens during an appointment, whether that’s an awkward, personal conversation or an examination. It’s worth remembering that the doctors and nurses are there to help you through any anxieties you may have and to be sensitive to your needs. And there’s no need for embarrassment – we see many patients with similar problems all the time. We want to establish rapport with and assess each patient accurately and compassionately to make sure they are getting the best treatment as soon as possible to enable the best possible outcome.”
Dr Robin Clark, Medical Director for Bupa Global & UK adds: “Thinking or talking about toilet habits might make you feel uncomfortable, but ultimately being in tune with your bowels could save your life. If anything doesn't look or feel right, or you’ve noticed an unexplained change of some sort, it’s crucial that you seek medical help immediately, no matter what your age. When caught early, 98% of people with bowel cancer will survive for a year or more, compared to almost half the number when the disease is diagnosed at the latest stage. That’s why it’s also important to attend cancer screening invitations.
“In addition, there are some simple lifestyle changes that people can adapt which will make a real difference. Things like increasing their intake of fruit and vegetables, and other high-fibre food, minimising alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy weight will all reduce the risk of developing problems later down the line.”
Mr Alastair Windsor, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Chair of the HCA UK GI Board adds: “For anyone experiencing symptoms of bowel cancer it is a hugely worrying time. Catching bowel cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage significantly improves treatment outcomes. Specialist Centres for Bowel Cancer are a fast and easy way for people experiencing symptoms to access an expert diagnosis. Speedy investigations can be carried out in just one appointment and if required, there is fast access to expert treatment and care.”
Key features of the Specialist Centres for bowel cancer include:
- One appointment for all initial diagnostics under one roof within four working days of calling Bupa, giving customers peace of mind or fast access to treatment.
- Treatment begins within 31 days of first calling Bupa, which is twice as fast as national targets. Customers can also access clinical trials and genetic testing, if appropriate.
- Emotional and wellbeing support from counsellors and nurses, and access to Bupa’s Live Well with Cancer and enhanced recovery programmes.
Bupa’s cancer support:
- If worried about any changes to bowel habits or potential cancer symptoms, Bupa Health Clinics offer health assessments which include checks for bowel cancer and GP appointments to talk about any symptoms.
- Bupa health insurance customers can also call its Cancer Direct Access service to discuss symptoms over the phone with a dedicated oncology team. They will then be offered a consultation with a cancer specialist, usually without needing a GP referral. These services help people get faster diagnosis and access to treatment.
