This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the NHS in the Midlands is calling on those eligible in the younger category, aged 50-58 to take up the offer of their home testing kit for bowel cancer which is sent directly to their home. Figures show that uptake is lower for those in this younger range compared to those above 58, with over 6% fewer people taking up the screening opportunity.

The lifesaving NHS Screening Programme for bowel cancer is available to everyone aged 54 – 74, and more recently is being expanded to include all over 50s by this year. Through regular screening, the programme aims to diagnose bowel cancers at an earlier stage, increasing the chances of successful treatment and survival.

The kit, known as the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), checks for blood in a small stool sample, which can be a sign of bowel cancer. Since the FIT kits were introduced in 2019, national uptake has increased slightly from 65.2% to 67.8% but more needs to be done. FIT kits are done at home by putting a poo sample in a small tube and returning it by post to the NHS for testing.

An invitation letter is sent out with the test, including full instructions and prepaid return packaging. Results are sent back to participants, along with information about further tests, if needed.

Dr Agnes Belencsak, Screening Lead in the Midlands said “Bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer. This life saving screening programme helps find cancers at an earlier stage when they are easier to treat.

“We are seeing positive uptake of the home testing FIT kits across the region, but this drops off in the lower age groups and we want to see even more people taking up the offer.

If a FIT kit is sent to you, it’s meant for you – even if you don’t have the symptoms. 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. Completing it in the privacy of your own home with simple step by step instructions helps make it easy to complete.

If you have been sent a FIT kit, dig it out, put it by the loo and return it back to us at the next opportunity – it could save your life.”

Bowel cancer screening is offered every two years. The NHS automatically invites people once they become eligible for bowel cancer screening.

97 or 98 out of 100 people who use their bowel cancer screening kit do not need further tests.

2 or 3 in 100 people are asked to go to hospital for further tests.

7 to 10 in every 100 people who have a colonoscopy turn out to have bowel cancer.

You can download the NHS App www.nhs.uk/nhs-app  to get your future messages about bowel cancer screening straight to your smart device.

People can call the free bowel cancer screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60. Information on bowel cancer and the screening programme can be found on the nhs.uk website.

If you notice any symptoms of bowel cancer, contact your GP and don’t wait for your screening test. The type of changes to look out for are changes in your usual bowel habits for 3 weeks or more:

• tummy discomfort
• blood in poo
• diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason
• a feeling of not having emptied your bowels after going to the toilet
• pain in your stomach or bottom
• your poo is loose, pale or looks greasy.