If you are aged 50 – 74 you will be invited to do an at home bowel cancer screening test to check for signs of bowel cancer.
Why?
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK.
Bowel cancer screening uses a test called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to look for blood in a sample of your poo, which can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It can help find cancer early, and before you have any symptoms.
Who?
Currently bowel screening is offered to people aged 50 – 74 every 2 years. This is because your risk of getting bowel cancer increases as you get older.
Depending on when you turn 50, you will be sent your first test at either 50, 52 or 54.
If you are aged 75 or over, you are also able to continue screening for bowel cancer every 2 years but will need to call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060 to request the test.
How?
If you are aged 50 – 74 and registered with a GP, you will automatically get a bowel screening home test kit (FIT kit) via the post every 2 years.
If you do not have a permanent home address, you can ask your GP surgery for your FIT kit to be sent to the GP surgery or to another address.
If you do not want to be invited for screening, call the bowel cancer screening helpline to be taken off the screening list. You can ask to be put back on the list any time if you change your mind.
Getting your results
You will usually get your results of your bowel cancer screening test within 2 weeks after sending your sample off. Sometimes it can take a little longer.
You will receive your results via letter.
If you do not get your results within 2 weeks, you can call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.
If your results say “no further tests needed” then you do not need to do anything else and will automatically be offered bowel cancer screening again in 2 years if you are aged between 50 and 74.
If your results say “further tests needed” then it means blood was found in your poo and this will need to be investigated further. You will be invited to an appointment with a specialist nurse who will talk with you about your results and what happens next, which will usually be a colonoscopy, which is a camera to check inside your bowel. If blood is found in your poo it doesn’t always mean you have cancer, there are more common and less serious causes of blood in your poo.
Screening does not stop you getting bowel cancer, but it is the best way to find cancer at an early stage.
If you think you’re eligible for bowel cancer screening but you’ve not been invited, or had your test kit, call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.
Even if bowel cancer screening shows you do not need further tests, it does not always mean you do not have bowel cancer. There’s still a chance you may get bowel cancer in the future. It’s important to know the symptoms of bowel cancer and to see your GP if you have symptoms you’re worried about.
Symptoms of bowel cancer may include: (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/symptoms/)
- Changes in your bowel movements that is not usual for you
- Blood in your poo, that may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired or short of breath
https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/bowel-cancer-screening/
