Bowel cancer screening
Screening is a way of testing healthy people to see if they show any early signs of cancer.
Bowel cancer screening can save lives. Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment has the best chance of working. The test can also find polyps (non-cancerous growths), which might develop into cancer. Polyps can easily be removed, to lower the risk of bowel cancer.
What is bowel cancer screening?
Screening is a way of testing healthy people to see if they show any early signs of cancer. Bowel cancer screening can save lives. Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment has the best chance of working. The test can also find polyps (non-cancerous growths), which might develop into cancer. Polyps can be removed, to lower the risk of bowel cancer.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland people over the age of 60 are invited to take part in bowel cancer screening. In Scotland, screening starts from age 50. You will be invited to take part in screening every two years until you reach the age of 75.
Each of the screening programmes in the UK use home tests, which look for hidden blood in poo. If you are registered with a GP and within the eligible screening age range, a test will be automatically posted to you, so you can complete it in the privacy of your own home.
Bowel Cancer UK do not provide bowel cancer screening test kits or accept completed kits.
Which bowel screening tests are used in the UK?
There are currently three different bowel screening tests used as part of bowel screening programmes in the UK. The test you receive will vary depending on which country you live in.
Faecal occult blood test (FOBT) >>
The bowel screening programmes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland use a test called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).
Using the cardboard sticks provided, you will be asked to smear two small samples of poo onto a special screening card. You will need to do this three times over a two week period (10 days in Northern Ireland).
You will be given a self-sealing, freepost envelope to send the card back to the screening centre. Full instructions and a detailed information leaflet will be sent to you with your invitation and test.
You will get your test results in about two weeks.
Most people have a normal result, which means that no blood was found in the sample. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have or won’t get bowel cancer so you should still see your GP if you have any symptoms. You will receive another test in two years.
If the result isn’t clear, you may need to do the test again.
If the test finds blood in your sample, you will be invited to a local screening centre to talk about your results. This doesn’t mean that you have cancer. The bleeding could be caused by a non-cancerous growth or another health problem. You will be offered more tests, such as a colonoscopy, to find out what is causing the bleeding.
Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) >>
The Scottish bowel screening programme uses a test called a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT).
The test has a stick attached to the lid, this is used to take one small poo sample and then placed back into the tube.
You will be given a self-sealing, freepost envelope to send the test back to the screening centre. Full instructions and a detailed information leaflet will be sent to you with your invitation and test.
You will get your test results in about two weeks.
Most people will be told no further investigation is needed. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have or won’t get bowel cancer so you should still see your GP if you have any symptoms. You will receive another test in two years.
Some people will be told that further tests are needed. This doesn’t mean you have cancer. The bleeding could be caused by a non-cancerous growth or another health problem. You will be offered more tests, such as a colonoscopy, to find out what is causing the bleeding.
Bowel scope screening >>
Another bowel screening test called bowel scope is gradually being introduced in England to all men and women aged 55. This is used in addition to the home based FOBT for people from 60-74.
Bowel scope involves using a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end (called a flexible sigmoidoscopy) to look inside the lower part of your bowel and your back passage (rectum). The test looks for, and removes, any non-cancerous growths (polyps) that could develop into cancer over time.
You will get your test results in about two weeks.
UK bowel cancer screening programmes
At the moment, the bowel cancer screening programme in every UK country uses the FOBT test.
England >>
- If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years
- If you are aged 75 or over, you can ask for a screening test by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60 or visit NHS Choices for more information about bowel screening in England.
- Bowel scope screening is another part of the national bowel cancer screening programme in England. The test is gradually being introduced, and will eventually invite all men and women in England aged 55 to take part. The NHS Choices website has more information on bowel scope screening.
- The English bowel cancer screening programme currently uses the FOBT test, but has committed to introduce the new FIT test in 2018.
- Download our leaflet and poster about bowel screening in England.
Scotland >>
- If you are aged between 50 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
- The Scottish bowel cancer screening programme introduced the FIT test in November 2017.
- If you are aged 75 or over, you can ask for a bowel cancer screening test by calling the free bowel screening centre helpline on 0800 0121 833.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 0121 833 or visit NHS Inform for more information about bowel screening in Scotland.
Wales >>
- If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
- Bowel screening Wales currently uses the FOBT test, but has committed to introduce the new FIT test in 2019.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 294 3370 or visit Bowel Screening Wales for more information about bowel screening in Wales.
- Download our poster about bowel screening in Wales (also available in Welsh).
Northern Ireland >>
- If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
- The Northern Ireland bowel cancer screening programme currently uses the FOBT test. We don’t yet know if the new FIT test will be introduced.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 015 2514 or visit the Northern Ireland Cancer Screening website for more information about bowel screening in Northern Ireland.
- Download our poster about bowel screening in Northern Ireland.
Benefits and risks of bowel cancer screening
The sooner bowel cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. But no screening test is 100 per cent accurate.
It is your choice whether to take part in the screening programme. Some of the benefits and risks of bowel cancer screening are listed here.
Benefits >>
- Taking part in bowel cancer screening lowers your risk of dying from bowel cancer.
- Screening can pick up cancers at an early stage, when there is a good chance of successful treatment. If bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, more than nine in ten people will be successfully treated.
- Screening can find non-cancerous growths (polyps) in the bowel that may develop into cancer in the future. Removing these polyps can reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer.
Risks >>
- Cancer may be missed if it was not bleeding when you took the test. The screening test works by finding traces of blood, which may be from a cancer.
- Screening may give a false positive result. This means that you may get an abnormal result when you don’t have cancer. Other medical problems and some food and medicines may give a false positive result. This can cause worry and can lead to other tests, such as a colonoscopy. Your screening test will come with information about what may affect the test results.
- Bowel cancer can develop in the two years between your screening tests. Speak to your GP if you notice any symptoms or are worried about bowel cancer at any time.
Private screening
Some people who don’t have any symptoms and don’t fit the criteria for NHS screening choose to pay for a private test. Testing kits are available from pharmacies or from private healthcare companies. If you have any symptoms, you should visit your GP.
The self-test kits you buy over the counter from pharmacies vary in quality, so the results could be misleading. We can’t recommend or comment on individual tests without a full review by independent experts. In the meantime, we recommend you speak to your GP.
Some private companies offer bowel cancer screening, where the samples are tested in a laboratory and the results sent to you. If you are thinking about paying for a private screening test, or your health insurance company offers you a test, ask the company what care or support they offer after you get the test results. They should also tell you how accurate their test is. If the results aren’t clear or if they find blood in your sample, you will either need to visit your GP or get a referral for further tests.
The NHS in England has written a leaflet called Thinking about having a private screening test?.
Click here for more information >>
Screening is a way of testing healthy people to see if they show any early signs of cancer.
Bowel cancer screening can save lives. Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment has the best chance of working. The test can also find polyps (non-cancerous growths), which might develop into cancer. Polyps can easily be removed, to lower the risk of bowel cancer.
What is bowel cancer screening?
Screening is a way of testing healthy people to see if they show any early signs of cancer. Bowel cancer screening can save lives. Screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment has the best chance of working. The test can also find polyps (non-cancerous growths), which might develop into cancer. Polyps can be removed, to lower the risk of bowel cancer.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland people over the age of 60 are invited to take part in bowel cancer screening. In Scotland, screening starts from age 50. You will be invited to take part in screening every two years until you reach the age of 75.
Each of the screening programmes in the UK use home tests, which look for hidden blood in poo. If you are registered with a GP and within the eligible screening age range, a test will be automatically posted to you, so you can complete it in the privacy of your own home.
Bowel Cancer UK do not provide bowel cancer screening test kits or accept completed kits.
Which bowel screening tests are used in the UK?
There are currently three different bowel screening tests used as part of bowel screening programmes in the UK. The test you receive will vary depending on which country you live in.
Faecal occult blood test (FOBT) >>
The bowel screening programmes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland use a test called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).
Using the cardboard sticks provided, you will be asked to smear two small samples of poo onto a special screening card. You will need to do this three times over a two week period (10 days in Northern Ireland).
You will be given a self-sealing, freepost envelope to send the card back to the screening centre. Full instructions and a detailed information leaflet will be sent to you with your invitation and test.
You will get your test results in about two weeks.
Most people have a normal result, which means that no blood was found in the sample. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have or won’t get bowel cancer so you should still see your GP if you have any symptoms. You will receive another test in two years.
If the result isn’t clear, you may need to do the test again.
If the test finds blood in your sample, you will be invited to a local screening centre to talk about your results. This doesn’t mean that you have cancer. The bleeding could be caused by a non-cancerous growth or another health problem. You will be offered more tests, such as a colonoscopy, to find out what is causing the bleeding.
Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) >>
The Scottish bowel screening programme uses a test called a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT).
The test has a stick attached to the lid, this is used to take one small poo sample and then placed back into the tube.
You will be given a self-sealing, freepost envelope to send the test back to the screening centre. Full instructions and a detailed information leaflet will be sent to you with your invitation and test.
You will get your test results in about two weeks.
Most people will be told no further investigation is needed. This doesn’t mean that you don’t have or won’t get bowel cancer so you should still see your GP if you have any symptoms. You will receive another test in two years.
Some people will be told that further tests are needed. This doesn’t mean you have cancer. The bleeding could be caused by a non-cancerous growth or another health problem. You will be offered more tests, such as a colonoscopy, to find out what is causing the bleeding.
Bowel scope screening >>
Another bowel screening test called bowel scope is gradually being introduced in England to all men and women aged 55. This is used in addition to the home based FOBT for people from 60-74.
Bowel scope involves using a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end (called a flexible sigmoidoscopy) to look inside the lower part of your bowel and your back passage (rectum). The test looks for, and removes, any non-cancerous growths (polyps) that could develop into cancer over time.
You will get your test results in about two weeks.
UK bowel cancer screening programmes
At the moment, the bowel cancer screening programme in every UK country uses the FOBT test.
England >>
- If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years
- If you are aged 75 or over, you can ask for a screening test by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60 or visit NHS Choices for more information about bowel screening in England.
- Bowel scope screening is another part of the national bowel cancer screening programme in England. The test is gradually being introduced, and will eventually invite all men and women in England aged 55 to take part. The NHS Choices website has more information on bowel scope screening.
- The English bowel cancer screening programme currently uses the FOBT test, but has committed to introduce the new FIT test in 2018.
- Download our leaflet and poster about bowel screening in England.
Scotland >>
- If you are aged between 50 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
- The Scottish bowel cancer screening programme introduced the FIT test in November 2017.
- If you are aged 75 or over, you can ask for a bowel cancer screening test by calling the free bowel screening centre helpline on 0800 0121 833.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 0121 833 or visit NHS Inform for more information about bowel screening in Scotland.
Wales >>
- If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
- Bowel screening Wales currently uses the FOBT test, but has committed to introduce the new FIT test in 2019.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 294 3370 or visit Bowel Screening Wales for more information about bowel screening in Wales.
- Download our poster about bowel screening in Wales (also available in Welsh).
Northern Ireland >>
- If you are aged between 60 and 74, you will be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening every two years.
- The Northern Ireland bowel cancer screening programme currently uses the FOBT test. We don’t yet know if the new FIT test will be introduced.
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 015 2514 or visit the Northern Ireland Cancer Screening website for more information about bowel screening in Northern Ireland.
- Download our poster about bowel screening in Northern Ireland.
Benefits and risks of bowel cancer screening
The sooner bowel cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. But no screening test is 100 per cent accurate.
It is your choice whether to take part in the screening programme. Some of the benefits and risks of bowel cancer screening are listed here.
Benefits >>
- Taking part in bowel cancer screening lowers your risk of dying from bowel cancer.
- Screening can pick up cancers at an early stage, when there is a good chance of successful treatment. If bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, more than nine in ten people will be successfully treated.
- Screening can find non-cancerous growths (polyps) in the bowel that may develop into cancer in the future. Removing these polyps can reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer.
Risks >>
- Cancer may be missed if it was not bleeding when you took the test. The screening test works by finding traces of blood, which may be from a cancer.
- Screening may give a false positive result. This means that you may get an abnormal result when you don’t have cancer. Other medical problems and some food and medicines may give a false positive result. This can cause worry and can lead to other tests, such as a colonoscopy. Your screening test will come with information about what may affect the test results.
- Bowel cancer can develop in the two years between your screening tests. Speak to your GP if you notice any symptoms or are worried about bowel cancer at any time.
Private screening
Some people who don’t have any symptoms and don’t fit the criteria for NHS screening choose to pay for a private test. Testing kits are available from pharmacies or from private healthcare companies. If you have any symptoms, you should visit your GP.
The self-test kits you buy over the counter from pharmacies vary in quality, so the results could be misleading. We can’t recommend or comment on individual tests without a full review by independent experts. In the meantime, we recommend you speak to your GP.
Some private companies offer bowel cancer screening, where the samples are tested in a laboratory and the results sent to you. If you are thinking about paying for a private screening test, or your health insurance company offers you a test, ask the company what care or support they offer after you get the test results. They should also tell you how accurate their test is. If the results aren’t clear or if they find blood in your sample, you will either need to visit your GP or get a referral for further tests.
The NHS in England has written a leaflet called Thinking about having a private screening test?.
Click here for more information >>