Dear men of Ireland: If a free test could save your life, why not do it?

Just one in four men take up the initial BowelScreen invitation. Irish Examiner columnists are joining forces to raise awareness in a social media campaign

Ten Irish Examiner columnists take part in a high- profile social media campaign aimed at men. From top left: Tommy Martin, Dáithí Ó Sé, Mick Clifford, Michael Moynihan, Liam Sheedy, Anthony Daly, Fergus Finlay, Richard Hogan, Donal Lenihan and Dr Phil Kieran. 

Irish men are known for their stoicism, often pushing through pain and discomfort, insisting, ‘I’m grand, nothing to see here’, or believing they are too busy to set aside time to look after their health. But that tough-it-out mindset can come at a cost, leading to serious and sometimes devastating consequences.

In the case of bowel cancer, around 1,500 men in Ireland develop the disease every year. Although men are more likely than women to be diagnosed, only one in four take up their initial BowelScreen invitation.

The free HSE test is currently available to everyone aged 58-70. It takes just minutes to complete and is returned by free-post. Highly sensitive, it can detect cancer at the earliest stages, increasing the chances of successful treatment and recovery.

Ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness month in April, we contacted some high-profile Irish Examiner columnists, asking them to participate in a straight-talking social media campaign aimed at men. Ten generous souls stepped up: Dáithí Ó Sé, Donal Lenihan, Fergus Finlay, Richard Hogan, Liam Sheedy, Anthony Daly, Tommy Martin, Dr Phil Kieran, Michael Moynihan, and Mick Clifford.

Their message on taking up the BowelScreen invitation is direct: Do it.

They also encourage us to spot the warning signs of bowel cancer, regardless of age or when we were last screened. These signs include: Changes in bowel habits that don’t go away; blood in your poo; stomach pain; ongoing abdominal bloating; feeling tired for no reason; and sudden weight loss.

Here, five participants in our campaign share their views on why prioritising health — including doing the BowelScreen test — is non-negotiable for men.

Tommy Martin

“I sometimes think men are bad at looking after their health, because we think that we have far more important things to be doing.

“But what could be more important? The BowelScreen test is free — there’s one box ticked for most blokes — and it’s pretty straightforward, so we have no excuse, really.”

Dr Phil Kieran

“It is well recognised that men are worse at looking after their health than women. There are lots of excuses given for this, but for a screening programme like BowelScreen, there is no excuse. Men need to step up and take responsibility for thinking about the future and their health.

“Taking a free bowel test could save your life. Early diagnosis can mean treatment is quicker, easier, and has fewer side effects. Stop burying your head in the sand and take the test.”

Mick Clifford

“Until recent years, I wouldn’t have paid any heed to fears around matters like bowel cancer. But just looking around at the kind of health issues that arise out of nowhere for some of my peers has made me think again. Once you’re over 50, you’re effectively walking through sniper alley, when you can be cut down by all sorts of health ailments. It’s always better to be wearing a bulletproof vest in case you’re in the line of sight.”

Michael Moynihan

“I suppose men are notorious for not going to the doctor, but regular check-ups are non-negotiable, really. They should be underlined in bold in every man’s calendar.”

Richard Hogan

“Men can be slow to go to their GP, particularly when they feel fine. We often prioritise work or something else that we deem more important. Going for a check-up isn’t a weakness; it is a preventive measure that could pick up signs of early illness and possibly save your life. We need to normalise men going to the GP, so that children can have their fathers long in to their lives.”

The under-one-minute video, expertly produced by the creative media company Heritage, goes live today. Please like and share widely: It could help to save a life.

• Find out more at irishexaminer.com/bowel-cancertarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">, and follow us on Facebooktarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">, Instagram (@irish_examinertarget="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">), and LinkedIn to watch our columnists highlight the importance of BowelScreen and recognising bowel cancer warning signs.

Spot the symptoms

• Changes in bowel habits — diarrhoea, runny bowel movements, constipation, needing to poo more or less often than usual.
• Blood in your poo, which may look red or black.
• Stomach issues — cramps, general abdominal pain, bloating that doesn’t go away.
• Weight loss when you’re not trying to lose weight.
• Tiredness and lack of energy when you’ve had enough rest.
• Any unusual change you know isn’t right for you.
• If you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your GP.

• For information on bowel cancer screening and using home test kits, see: hse.ie/conditions/bowel-screening

The Bottom Line. Click to read more of Feelgood's bowel cancer awareness special edition