TV viewers had an opportunity to see how the BowelScreen Home Test works on the current TV series of 'You Should Really See A Doctor' presented by Dr Pixie McKenna and Dr Phil Kieran.
The screening programme which featured on the TV show is aimed at men and women aged 60 to 69, however, recent figures show that men are less likely to participate in bowel screening than women.
To tackle the issue, Dr Pixie McKenna visited the Men's Shed in Ballinteer, Dublin to speak with a number of men on the reasons why they may not have taken up the screening test and to demonstrate just how easy it is to do it at home.
She advised on the importance and benefits of bowel screening, explaining that the test can detect blood in the bowel which may indicate that there are health problems which, when caught early through screening, can be managed or treated before it becomes a bigger problem.
Speaking of the simple home test, Dr Pixie stated that “it’s free, can be done in the privacy of your own home and is potentially lifesaving”.
The programme aired on Wednesday 22nd November 2017 on RTE One and may be viewed on the RTE player.