Important words

An alphabetical list of words used in bowel screening, with explanations.

Bowel polyps: Small growths on the lining of the bowel. They do not usually cause any symptoms, so most people with polyps will not know they have them. Most polyps are harmless, but some types of polyps (called adenomas) may become cancerous. 

Colonoscopy: A thin bendy tube with a camera on the end used to look at your bowel.

Haemorrhoids: Sometimes called piles. Swollen blood vessels in or around the anus and rectum. They can cause bleeding when you have a poo. They can be itchy and painful. They do not usually cause serious health problems.