Bowel Cancer Screening and Awareness
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. Detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated. On this page you will find a range of information including the signs of bowel cancer and information about at home testing.
People aged 56-74
If you are aged between 56 to 74, you should have received a bowel cancer screening kit through the post. That’s because the NHS automatically sends a kit every two years to people in this age group who are registered with a GP. This service is currently being expanded too, meaning younger people will have access to these test soon.
Nine out of every 5,000 people who use their test kit turn out to have cancer. But if it’s spotted early, the chances of recovering from bowel cancer are higher.
The test can be done in the comfort of your home and only needs a tiny sample of poo to test for signs of cancer. `
The NHS bowel cancer screening kit detects signs of cancer before you notice anything wrong. Yet the latest data showed that one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it. So, keep an eye out for your bowel cancer testing kit in the post, or dig out the one that you put away in that drawer and forgot about. And then put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.
People aged 75 and over
People aged 75 and over can request a kit by phoning the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Have you received results but aren’t sure what they mean?
Visit www.nhs.uk/bowel where you can find lots more information about bowel screening, as well as what your results mean.
Do you have a test at home but you are unsure how to complete it?
The kit can be completed in the privacy of your own bathroom using the simple step by step instructions on the box.
You only need to collect one tiny sample of poo using the plastic stick provided, pop it in the sample bottle and post it for free, to be tested.
The short video below explains how to complete the test.
To access information about bowel screening in different languages. Click here.