Bowel Cancer
Contact us
Call our cancer care line on 01227 868666.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am - 4pm.
What we do
Our bowel cancer team care for people with suspected bowel cancer.
If you are worried about bowel cancer symptoms, please see your GP. If necessary, your GP will refer you to the hospital for tests.
What to expect
If you have suspected bowel cancer, you will be referred to our specialist colorectal cancer team.
Your GP or nurse will have referred you on an urgent pathway to exclude or confirm bowel cancer. It's called a 2 week wait referral.
It is important to remember that bowel symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer.
Some patients who come through the bowel cancer screening service will go directly to have a test to check inside the bowel, called a colonoscopy.
About your appointment
First, you will be offered a telephone appointment with a doctor or a nurse.
You may then be booked for further investigations. These could be:
a CT scan.
If you need a different type of test this will be explained to you.
Please try and attend appointments when they are offered so that we can get the fastest outcome for you.
We will always try and book appointments and investigations at your local hospital, but this may not always be possible when booking urgent tests. You will be contacted by telephone, so please check messages and missed calls, and importantly, make sure we have the right contact information for you.
Diagnosis and next steps
If you have a colonoscopy which suggests you have bowel cancer this will be explained to you following the procedure.
We aim to contact you within 2 working days to introduce the specialist cancer nursing service and explain the next steps, following your diagnosis. We will also answer any concerns and questions you have.
Your case will be discussed by your colorectal team in their weekly meeting. A copy of your care plan is sent to your GP the next working day. We will then arrange to see you in clinic, or a further telephone appointment will be arranged.
Please remember the specialist colorectal cancer team is here to support you throughout your care.
You can contact us via the cancer care line on 01227 868666.
Learn more about our cancer treatment optionsWhere to find us
Our services take place at:
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury.