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Benefits and disadvantages of bowel cancer screening

To help you to decide whether to take part in the bowel screening programme, the main benefits and disadvantages are listed here.

On this page

Benefits of bowel screening
Disadvantages

Benefits of bowel screening Back To Top

Bowel cancer screening can detect bowel cancer at its earliest stage, when there is a 90% (9 in 10) chance of curing it.
Screening can reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16% (1 in 6).
Removing polyps can reduce the chances of developing bowel cancer.
A colonoscopy is the best way of diagnosing a bowel cancer.
The FOB test is done in the privacy of your own home.

Disadvantages Back To Top

Bowel cancer screening may not prevent cancer.
You may feel embarrassed about collecting samples of your bowel motions.
You may get anxious waiting for results.
The FOB test is not 100% reliable.
A bowel cancer may be missed if it’s not bleeding when the FOB test is done.
Bowel preparation the day before a colonoscopy can be unpleasant.
There are risks associated with having a colonoscopy.
Bowel cancer can start to develop in the two years between screening tests.

Content last reviewed: 1 April 2008

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Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales company number 2400969. Isle of Man company number 4694F. Registered office: 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.