NHS England starts sending bowel cancer screening tests to over-50s

Cancer Research UK posted on LinkedIn:

“Everyone aged between 50 and 52 in England is now set to receive an at-home poo testing kit as part of NHS England’s bowel cancer screening programme.

The Faecal Immunochemistry Test (FIT), which looks for invisible traces of blood in small poo samples, can help detect bowel cancer before it causes noticeable symptoms. Since 2021, the NHS in England has gradually been expanding coverage to people aged between 50 and 59 as part of its long-term plan to diagnose more cancers in their earliest stages.

‘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,’ said Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England. ‘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.’

Check your post

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with around 44,100 people being diagnosed with the disease every year.

Expanding coverage to 50 to 52-year-olds means 850,000 more people in England a year are now eligible for FIT. In the coming months, they will automatically receive an invitation letter, followed by a FIT testing kit with full instructions and prepaid return packaging. Test results will be sent back to participants, along with information about further tests, if needed.

In total, over four million more people have been sent the test kit since NHS England began offering it to under-60s in 2021. Previously, it was only available to the country’s 60 to 74-year-olds. (Over-75s can request a kit by phoning the NHS bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60). Bowel cancer screening has also been rolled out to those aged 50 and over in Scotland and Wales.

Check your poo

People eligible for bowel cancer screening receive a FIT testing kit every two years. The test involves taking a small sample of poo with a collection stick and sealing it in a tube. Users then send the tube to an NHS lab in the specially designed hygienic envelope provided with the kit.

Taking part in screening is always a personal choice. FIT, which is simpler and more convenient than the previous home test, is designed to make it easier for people to say yes to screening. Since it was introduced to NHS England’s programme in April 2019, uptake has increased from 59% to 65%.

Now, NHS England is also calling on more people to take part, especially in age groups that have only begun receiving the test more recently. Less than 60% of 54 to 57-year-olds have returned FIT tests, compared to over 70% of those aged 60 to 74.

‘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,’ said Steve Russell, National Director for Vaccinations and Screening at NHS England.

Who is bowel cancer screening for?

According to a UK-wide survey we ran in 2023, one of the main reasons people don’t attend bowel screening when invited is because they don’t have symptoms.

That’s based on a slight misunderstanding. It’s important to remember that screening is specifically designed to find cancer in high risk groups before symptoms start. One of the reasons it’s so valuable is because many cancers only start causing symptoms after they reach a certain size, or when they begin spreading through the body, by which point they are usually much harder to treat.

‘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,’ continued Russell. ‘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.’

Only around two out of 100 people who use the FIT kit will require further testing. For those two people, it could be lifesaving.

Professor Johnson added: ‘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.’

Talk to your doctor

If you notice any changes that aren’t normal for you, don’t wait for your next screening invite; talk to your doctor. It probably won’t be cancer, but if it is, spotting it early means that treatment is more likely to be successful. There’s more information on our bowel cancer symptoms page.

‘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,’ said Johnson.

Stephen’s story

One person who knows how lifechanging these simple tests can be is Stephen Gates, a 56-year-old business development director from north Buckinghamshire.

Stephen was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer after returning his FIT kit last summer. Though his diagnosis came as a complete shock, he’s grateful his cancer was found early and is now urging others to complete their FIT kits as soon as they can.

Stephen said: ‘I’ve always had an active, busy lifestyle, working full time and exercising lots, and I’ve always taken good care of my nutrition – in fact I’m as fit now as I was in my mid-30s. So you can imagine my shock when I completed my first home testing kit, and received a phone call inviting me for a colonoscopy. Unfortunately, it revealed that I had a malignant tumour in my bowel. I couldn’t believe it – I had no symptoms. At first I was devastated and terrified. The month or so between diagnosis and finding out the results of the scans were really tough. I told no one other than my wife, my boss and two friends. I wanted to shield my two daughters and wider family and friends from the news until I had more information about the treatment.’

‘The scans revealed that I had stage 2 cancer, but luckily it hadn’t spread. I elected to have bowel resection surgery later that summer, but stayed positive given it had been caught early. I spent the time preparing for surgery by exercising more, so that I was in the best possible physical and mental shape. I spent less than 72 hours in hospital following a 10-hour operation. The surgery was a great success and I’m now exercising at my previous levels, and I’ve started boxing. I feel incredibly fortunate that my cancer was picked up early through my screening test, which was so simple to complete and send back.’

‘I understand that some people might be nervous about taking the test, but the chances are you’ll have nothing to worry about and can sleep well knowing this. Please take up the offer and complete your bowel screening kit. It could save your life.'”