Bowel cancer screening: Alan Titchmarsh and Tommy Walsh | NHS

Bowel cancer screening in the UK

Bowel cancer screening in the UK is an essential part of the National Health Service's (NHS) efforts to detect and treat bowel cancer early, when it is more likely to be curable. The NHS offers bowel cancer screening to eligible individuals aged 60 to 74 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and up to age 75 in Scotland.

The primary screening test used is the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). This test detects hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer. Individuals in the eligible age group are sent a home testing kit every two years, which they can use to collect a small stool sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis.

If the FIT test results are abnormal, indicating the presence of blood in the stool, individuals are referred for further investigation, usually a colonoscopy, to examine the bowel and identify any abnormalities, such as polyps or tumors.

Regular screening can help detect bowel cancer at an early stage, often before symptoms develop, which can significantly improve the chances of successful treatment and survival. It's important for eligible individuals to participate in bowel cancer screening when invited by the NHS. Additionally, individuals experiencing symptoms such as persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss should seek medical advice promptly, regardless of their screening status.