Bowel cancer screening has been expanded to 50 to 52-year-olds in England, as part of a continued drive to detect cancer at an earlier stage and increase the chance of successful treatment.
Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) tests will now be sent to those between 50 and 74 every two years. Patients have to put a poo sample in a small tube, which is then sent back to the NHS for testing.
The test looks for blood in the stool sample, which is one of the symptoms of bowel cancer.
Those who are eligible for the test will automatically receive an invitation letter and a test, with instructions and prepaid return packaging.
Bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer in England, according to NHS England. Currently, less than 60% of 54-57 year olds have taken up the screening offer, and 70% of those between 60 and 74.
Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, said: ’Lives are saved when cancers are caught early and the expansion of the NHS bowel cancer screening programme to those aged 50 will help to spot signs of bowel cancer sooner, and potentially save thousands of lives.
‘We are seeing positive uptake of the home testing FIT kits, with over two thirds of those eligible returning their tests, but this drops off in the lower age groups and we want to see even more people taking up the offer.’
Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England said: ‘Thousands of people in England develop bowel cancer each year, and there are concerns that it is becoming more common for people in their 50’s – but what we do know is that the chances of surviving it are very good when it is caught early, which is why the NHS is sending out millions of free bowel cancer screening kits for people to use in the comfort of their own homes, and we urge everyone invited to take part.’
It comes after a tool to streamline throat cancer referrals is being piloted in the West Midlands.
