For the first time, home-testing kits to detect early-stage bowel cancer will be available to 58-year-olds in England, as part of an expansion of the screening programme.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer.
Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) will automatically be sent to those aged 58 once they are eligible. The tests can detect early signs of bowl cancer by the detecting the presence of blood in a small sample of poo.
The tests can easily be carried out at home and returned to the NHS by post. Those receiving the tests will get instructions and prepaid return packaging.
The NHS Long Term Plan includes a commitment to lower the age of those eligible for home-testing kits to those aged 50 and over by 2025. The FIT tests are already available to those aged 60 to 74 and most 56-year-olds in England.
National Clinical Director for Cancer Professor Peter Johnson, said: “We are expanding the bowel cancer screening programme in a phased approach to make sure we can diagnose bowel cancer as early as possible, often before symptoms appear – potentially saving thousands of lives with a simple and convenient test.
“I would encourage anyone who is sent a kit to return their tests as quickly as you can, because this can detect early signs of bowel cancer and ensure that anyone affected can get treatment for the disease sooner, while making it more accessible for people, including vulnerable groups, to do at home.
“It is still important that anyone experiencing symptoms, such as blood in their poo or severe stomach pain, no matter their age, should speak to their GP as soon as possible – so please don’t be prudish about poo and get checked if you have any worrying signs”.
Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK said: “This is a step in the right direction towards screening from 50, which we’ve long campaigned for. Screening is one of the best ways to diagnose bowel cancer early, or in some cases prevent it from developing in the first place, and so inviting more people to take part is welcomed.
“Offering the home test to more people is just one of the ways to improve bowel screening, however, the biggest barrier to improving early diagnosis, and offering a world-class screening programme, is the long-standing workforce shortage in endoscopy and pathology services. The new Prime Minister must urgently address this in the upcoming 10-Year Cancer Plan to meet the ambition to diagnose 75% of cancers early by 2028”.
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