“I’m alive and kicking thanks to a letter I got from BowelScreen. I don’t want people to be afraid of getting screened for bowel cancer - it’s a first step. If it comes back negative, happy days. If there is an issue - deal with it. Don’t let it go,” according to Joe Grogan from Tuam, Co Galway, who is encouraging those people in the 59 – 70 age group to avail of free bowel screening. “People get nips and tucks all the time that are visible, this is taking care of things on the inside. Bowel cancer can be treatable, especially when it’s found early.”

With Bowel Cancer Awareness Month this month (April), the HSE announced that from April 1^st this year, the eligible age range for BowelScreen – the HSE national bowel cancer screening programme - is expanding to include 70-year-olds. Free bowel screening is now available to everyone aged 59 to 70.

Joe is encouraging people to take the test – he had bowel cancer detected after he took a BowelScreen test. He was one of the first 59-year-olds to take part in BowelScreen after the age range was extended in October 2023. A funeral director, he received his invitation to take part in BowelScreen in November 2023: “When I got the letter, I thought I don’t need this, I felt good. Then I picked it up again and said what have I got to lose? I rang the freephone number and got the kit sent out to my home.”

BowelScreen invites eligible people to take part every two years using a simple FIT kit test sent to your home. The instructions are easy to follow and it is done in the privacy of the person’s bathroom. Using the kit, they take a sample of their poo and post it back to BowelScreen in a plain freepost envelope. The test looks for a level of blood and the results are sent out within four weeks.

Joe was initially hesitant: “I read what I had to do and thought I’ll leave that for a day. Then I changed my mind and just got on with it. It’s five minutes of your life. Once the little sample is in in the tube that’s it. For what those five minutes have meant to me, I’d do it every day if I had to. I sent the test back and thought nothing of it. Then I got a call on 20 December 2023 to say that something had shown up in my test and they wanted me to have a follow-up test called a colonoscopy on January 9th.”

During a colonoscopy a thin tube with a camera at the end is used to look for any changes in the bowel. Joe continued: “During the colonoscopy I could see a polyp on the screen. I thought they would just snip it out and off I’d go.” A biopsy of the polyp confirmed that Joe had bowel cancer: “I was shocked. I couldn’t take it in. I had no symptoms, no signs and hadn’t been at all worried over Christmas about the colonoscopy coming up.”

Joe had follow-up tests and started a treatment plan including chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, followed by surgery in August 2024: “There was very little discomfort after surgery. I just had to mind myself and follow the rules my doctor gave me. Here I am nearly 8 months after the surgery - it was a blip. I will park that part of my life and move on with the rest.”

Hilary Coffey, BowelScreen Programme Manager, said “We are pleased to make BowelScreen available to people aged 70 as we work to offer bowel screening to more people. Joe’s story reinforces the positive impact of choosing bowel screening. We’re thankful to Joe for sharing his experience and hope it will encourage everyone aged 59 to 70 to take up their invitation of the home testing kit when it’s offered.

“We know that 90% of people in the age range who take one BowelScreen test will go on to complete future tests two years later when they’re invited, reducing their overall chance of developing bowel cancer. Anyone who is unsure of how to get a test or who wants information or guidance can contact us to find out more.”

Professor Padraic MacMathuna, Clinical Director of BowelScreen, adds: “BowelScreen is a valuable health check that can prevent cancer developing and save lives by finding cancer early. For most people, the FIT kit will be the only test needed. About 3% of people who do the BowelScreen test are referred for a follow-up colonoscopy. This is where we look for and remove pre-cancerous changes, called polyps, from the lining of the bowel. We know that most bowel cancers develop from polyps so by doing this we can prevent cancer.

“For the small number of people who, like Joe, have cancer found following screening, it is usually discovered at an earlier stage, before symptoms have started when treatment is less invasive and more likely to be successful. Bowel screening is an important part of your normal healthcare routine, but it won’t find all changes. Cancer can develop at any time. If you are experiencing symptoms, including changes in your bowel habits, unexplained weight loss or blood in your poo then you should see a GP, even if you have recently had screening or you’re due to take your next screening test. Don’t wait for screening, see your GP if you have symptoms.”

Individuals will receive their first BowelScreen invitation between the ages of 59 and 60. If they haven’t received theirs when expected, they are encouraged to contact Bowelscreen directly to check the register. If anyone received a test but have misplaced it, they can also contact Bowelscreen to get another one.

Watch Joe tell his story

For more information, visit hse.ie/bowelscreen