Bowel Cancer Screening as part of the Male MOT.  Point Of Care Testing's Bowel Cancer Screening Service suggested for those who do not qualify for the NHS Screening Programme.

A change in bowel habits (excessive wind, pain, extra mucous or perhaps going from a daily need to three or four times a day) or bleeding may be symptoms of bowel cancer, explains Mark Saunders, an oncologist at The Christie Hospital in Manchester.

‘The change in habit is caused by the tumour obstructing your normal digestive process, slowing it down or speeding it up. Tumours appear as ulcers or small polyps, causing bleeding.’ 

THE NEXT STEP: Age is crucial. For the under-50s, Mr Saunders would be less concerned that cancer was to blame, and instead be looking for colitis, Crohn’s disease or piles. Over-50s, however, need to take these symptoms very seriously and get to a GP.

While rates of prevalence are equal between men and women before 50, after that men are more likely to get the disease. They are also notoriously bad about discussing their digestive problems.

A survey by Beating Bowel Cancer found that men are more embarrassed to talk about their bowel habits (31 per cent) than they are about losing their job (7 per cent), or the number of sexual partners they’ve had (17 per cent).

The over-70s in England can request a free home screening kit from the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Those aged 60-69 are offered a test every two years. If you are under 60 you can order a screening kit, £17.98, from Point Of Care Testing Ltd, www.pocl.co.uk.

Alternatively, ‘see your doctor, who will assess you and may refer you to a gastroenterologist for more tests, including possibly a colonoscopy,’ says Mr Saunders.

‘Do take action if you’ve had bleeding. Please don’t be embarrassed; we’ve seen it all before.’