Health secretary urges over 60s to take bowel cancer test

NHS Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) home testing kits are to be sent to people aged 60-74 to test for bowel cancer in a bid to save at least 2,500 lives a year from cancer.

Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year and 16,500 sadly die from it, making it one of the most common cancers in England. Yet just one in 20 Brits would go to the doctor if they had symptoms of bowel cancer, including constipation, blood in faeces, stomach cramps, excess gas and bloating.

Men are less likely to take up an offer of screening, less than half (47 per cent) of men compared to 56 per cent of women, despite being more likely to be diagnosed and die from the disease. Take-up rates are also low in people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those in more deprived areas.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I know all too well how devastating this disease is having lost my dad to bowel cancer 10 years ago. If he had been diagnosed earlier, he may still be with us today.

“As well as launching a 10-year cancer plan to deliver world-leading cancer care, I want to see more eligible people coming forward for bowel cancer screening, which saves at least 2,500 lives every year.

“We have already introduced a new home testing kit for those over 60 to make it easier and more convenient to get checked and screening services have recovered after the pandemic.

“This Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, I urge you to take up the screening offer and speak to your GP if you have health concerns.”

'The NHS FIT kits can be done quickly and conveniently at home'

The FIT testing kit is automatically sent to people aged 60-74 every two years and is quick to use, meaning patients do not need to go to hospital for screening. If the test finds anything unusual, people may be asked to have further tests to confirm or rule out cancer.

While some aspects of the bowel cancer screening programme were paused during the first wave of the pandemic, screening centres are now sending out invitations at rates over 100 per cent of pre-Covid levels and pre-pandemic performance has been restored.

There are also nearly 160 Faster Diagnosis Pathways in operation which aim to speed up diagnosis for cancer without the need for repeat diagnostic checks and ensure patients with worrying symptoms can be quickly assessed by a GP.

This summer the government will set out its 10-year cancer plan, which will focus on increasing the number of people diagnosed at an early stage, where treatment can prove more effective, boosting the cancer workforce, and tackling disparities and inequalities in healthcare.

Professor Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer, said: “Bowel cancer can develop without people being aware of it, so sending in a screening test could make all the difference if it means your bowel cancer can be picked up at an early stage when it is most likely to be curable.

“The NHS FIT kits can be done quickly and conveniently at home and really could save your life.”