The NHS is extending its bowel cancer screening programme across England, with those aged 50 and 52 set to receive a testing kit in the post by the end of March
Hundreds of thousands of people aged 50 and 52 will be receiving a bowel cancer testing kit in the post as the NHS expands its screening programme across England. The extension means that around 850,000 more people will now be included in the bowel cancer screening programme, with those aged 50 and 52 set to receive kits by the end of March.
Those aged 51 and 53 will have to wait until their next birthday but will then be posted a kit. Currently, the programme covers people aged 54 to 74, but with this expansion, everyone aged 50 to 74 will eventually be offered a home screening test to help detect bowel cancer.
The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) checks for blood in a stool sample, with individuals collecting their own sample at home before posting it back to NHS labs in a prepaid return envelope. Results are then sent out to people, along with any information about further tests, if required.
The NHS is urging people to take up the test after figures showed that fewer than 60% of 54 to 57 year olds do so, compared with more than 70% of those aged 60 to 74. People are much more likely to survive bowel cancer or have successful treatment if the disease is caught before it has spread.
Steve Russell, NHS England’s national director for vaccinations and screening, has urged the public to participate in bowel cancer screenings, especially as the programme expands to include those aged 50.
He highlighted: “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.”
He also added a New Year’s message about the importance of the test: “While taking a test for bowel cancer may be the last thing you’re thinking about as you enter the new year, it could save your life, so if you’ve got a FIT kit hiding in a drawer at home, I would encourage you to return it quickly as you can. Most people won’t have signs of cancer, but if the test does detect anything, we can ensure they are sent on for further tests and treatment.”
Professor Peter Johnson, the national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, highlighted the rising incidence of bowel cancer in younger individuals and stressed: “Thousands of people in England develop bowel cancer each year, and there are concerns that it is becoming more common for people in their 50s. There is no need to feel embarrassed about poo – the test is quick and simple to use and can detect signs of bowel cancer, often before symptoms appear, so please do return your FIT kit if you are sent one. If anyone experiences symptoms such as blood in their poo or severe stomach pain, no matter their age, they should speak to their GP and get it checked out as soon as possible.”
He also pointed out that data suggests around 2% of people who undertake the FIT test will require further investigation. The bowel cancer screening programme includes those aged 50 to 74, but those over 75 can still request a kit by calling the NHS bowel cancer screening helpline at 0800 707 60 60.
This announcement follows the revelation from recent research claiming that consuming a glass of milk daily could slash the risk of bowel cancer by almost a fifth. The research, conducted by experts at the University of Oxford, has purportedly found compelling evidence that calcium significantly lowers the risk of this lethal disease.
The risk of bowel cancer increases by 15% with daily consumption of a glass of wine, the team found. As one of the most common cancers in the UK, affecting over 44,000 individuals annually, bowel cancer can be prevented in more than half of cases. Key risk factors include consuming processed meat (13%) and being overweight or obese (11%).
Symptoms of bowel cancer and when to seek medical attention
Key indicators of bowel cancer include persistent stomach pain (lasting three weeks or more), blood in the stool, unexplained diarrhoea or constipation (lasting three weeks or more), feeling of not fully emptying bowels after a bowel movement, bottom pain, and pale, greasy stools.
Andrew Gwynne, the public health and prevention minister, said: “The evidence is overwhelming – this rollout will catch more cases at an earlier stage, preventing deaths and giving our fantastic NHS staff the precious time needed to treat people earlier and improve their life chances.”
Director of Research and External Affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, Dr Lisa Wilde, added: “Screening is one of the best ways to spot bowel cancer at an early stage, when it is treatable and curable. In fact, more than nine in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it’s diagnosed at the earliest stage.”
If you have symptoms, contact your GP rather than waiting for a test in the post.