Wick man keen to raise awareness of bowel screening after cancer all-clear
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A Caithness man is keen to raise awareness of Scotland’s bowel screening programme after his cancer was detected at an early stage.
Iain Banks wants others to do what he did and take part in screening whenever they are invited. “It’s such a simple test to do and it could be lifesaving,” he said.
Mr Banks, of Wick, completed his bowel screening test kit in November 2022 after it arrived in the post.
“I did the test straight away and sent it back,” he explained. “Three weeks later I received my results from the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre telling me I needed further investigations.
“I was very surprised that I had been called back for further tests as I had no symptoms and felt well.”
In January 2023 Mr Banks went for a colonoscopy – an examination of the lining of the bowel – at Caithness General Hospital and later found out he had bowel cancer.
Mr Banks had a consultation with consultant colorectal surgeon Raymond Oliphant at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness in February and surgery to remove the cancer was scheduled for March.
Mr Banks explained that before his operation he met the anaesthetist, surgeon and nurses who would be taking care of him.
“They told me what they planned to do and after the meeting I felt relaxed knowing that I was in very good and caring hands,” he said.
The operation was a success and Mr Banks went on to have eight cycles of chemotherapy. He has since been given the all-clear.
Mr Oliphant said: “Mr Banks was fortunate that taking part in bowel screening led to early detection of his tumour which was removed before the cancer had spread to other organs.
“When detected early, treatment for bowel cancer is much more likely to lead to long-term cure.”
Mr Banks credits staff at Caithness General and Raigmore for the treatment he received.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer among adults in Scotland, with nearly 4000 people diagnosed every year.
Bowel screening aims to detect cancer before symptoms even develop. When diagnosed and treated at an early stage, nine out of 10 people survive.
Men and women aged 50-74 are sent a screening test to complete at home every two years.
NHS Highland points out: “If you’ve made a mistake, misplaced, or didn’t receive your screening test kit, you do not have to wait until your next test comes in the post – you can request a replacement. In addition, people aged 75 and over can request a screening test.
“To request a test kit, contact the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre by freephone, 0800 0121 833 (textphone 18001 0800 0121 833), or by email at TAY.scottishbowelscreening@nhs.scot
“Symptoms can be caused by several conditions, not just cancer. However, if you have noticed any of them yourself, make an appointment to tell your doctor, even if you have recently completed a bowel screening test kit and were told the result was negative.”
Symptoms are:
• Repeated bleeding from your bottom or blood in your bowel movement.
• A recent change in your bowel movement that continues every day for four weeks, without going back to normal.
• Watery bowel movement on its own or with constipation (constipation on its own is less likely to be serious).
• Severe pain in the stomach that won’t go away, especially after eating.
• You’ve recently lost weight without trying.
• People say you look pale and you feel tired a lot.
More information about bowel screening, including information in alternative formats, can be found at https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/screening/bowel-screening
Kits sent by post contain clear instructions. After the test has been returned, the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre will send back the results.
