Caught early, nine in ten survive: Cornwall bowel cancer drive

A diagnosis that arrives early enough changes almost everything. Bowel Cancer UK says nine in ten people survive the disease when it is picked up at the earliest stage, when it is easier to treat. Getting more people to that point is the whole idea behind a new push landing in Cornwall, and the charity is asking local people to help make it happen.

What the charity is planning

Bowel Cancer UK is running a community-led programme to improve the early diagnosis of bowel cancer, and Cornwall is one of five areas across the UK in its first phase. In Cornwall the work centres on Penzance, Redruth, Camborne and Hayle. Those towns were chosen because bowel cancer there is more often found at a later stage, or because fewer people are taking up screening when it is offered.

The aim is to raise awareness of the symptoms and of the importance of screening, so more cases are caught before the disease has a chance to spread. Part of that is a simple message the charity wants people to remember, “Tell Your GP Instead”, encouraging anyone worried about a change in their body to go and get it checked. The programme is largely funded by the Bowelbabe Fund, set up in memory of Dame Deborah James.

Where volunteers come in

To do this on the ground, the charity needs volunteers. The work ranges from one-off actions to supporting stands and talks in the community, handing out information and encouraging people to take part in screening.

No previous experience is needed. Bowel Cancer UK says it wants enthusiastic people who are willing to help and committed to raising awareness of the disease, and it fits the roles around what people can offer. The charity had 101 regular volunteers in 2024, and its own survey that year gave volunteering a 4.5 out of 5 rating for enjoyment, with 92 per cent saying they would recommend it.

The roles fall into three broad areas. There is raising awareness of bowel cancer, including its signs and symptoms, promoting screening uptake and the charity’s services. There is supporting people affected by bowel cancer through the charity’s range of services. And there is supporting its policy and research work to help improve outcomes for people affected by the disease.

Why screening matters

The NHS bowel cancer screening programme sends a home test kit, known as FIT, to people aged 50 to 74 every two years. It checks for tiny amounts of blood in a poo sample, which can be an early sign of cancer or of polyps that might turn cancerous if left. People over 75 can ask for a kit rather than waiting for one to arrive. The test will not catch every case, so the charity’s message is that anyone with symptoms should still speak to their GP, whatever a recent screening result said.

How to get involved

Anyone who wants to know more about the volunteering roles can contact the charity by email at [email protected], or find out more on the Bowel Cancer UK website. Nine in ten, caught in time. In Penzance, Redruth, Camborne and Hayle, the charity is hoping a few local hands can help move the numbers in the right direction.