According to NICE, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the UK. Despite this, the embarrassment people feel when talking about their bowel habits is a barrier to many patients seeking advice and medical help, which delays a potential diagnosis.
The NHS bowel cancer screening programme was introduced in 2006, and in England faecal-occult blood test kits are now sent to all those aged 60 to 74 every two years. Will this process have any impact on the stigma surrounding bowel cancer, or is it just a way to get people into their GP surgery?
Recently, organisations such as the NHS and Beating Bowel Cancer charity have been working to educate the public on the importance of going their doctor early if they notice changes in their bowel habits, with slogans such as “don’t sit on your symptoms” and “be clear on cancer”. Is this enough to tackle to stigma associated with colorectal cancer? Or does more need to be done to overcome the nation’s embarrassment when it comes to talking about toilet habits?