Think about this: Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer and the second largest cause of cancer deaths.1
But the earlier it is diagnosed, the greater the likelihood that treatment will be successful.2
That’s why screening really matters. It can take a great weight off your mind.
For the vast majority of people, screening is a simple way of being reassured that they have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to bowel cancer.3 A screening can even pick up some problems that could be resolved before cancer starts.4,5
If you are offered a bowel cancer screening, be sure to attend. If you haven’t been invited to a screening, and you are over 50, ask your doctor to arrange one.
If you’re aged 54 to 74, your doctor will automatically arrange for you to get a bowel cancer screening home screening kit (FIT kit) by post every 2 years.6
The Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FITs) kit is a simple test where you take a small sample of your poo at home and send back by post. This sample is then tested to see if it contains any blood, which comes from bleeding in your digestive tract.7
If you think you might be due your kit but haven’t received it, contact the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060 or talk to your doctor.
But if yours does show any issues, the medical team can arrange a colonoscopy as soon as possible. This will confirm if there really is a problem.
Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) affects the large bowel. As it progresses, it can spread into the nearby liver and lymph nodes as well as other organs, such as the lungs and brain.8
Bowel cancer mainly affects people over the age of 50, although it can also occur in other age groups.9
Regular screening is the best way of catching bowel cancer early. Likewise, if bowel cancer is detected, an early diagnosis means treatment is more likely to be successful.2
In some cases, problems can be treated before cancer even starts e.g. adenomas, which are a benign growths that can become cancerous.4,5
Absolutely not. A colonoscopy is an everyday procedure that gives the doctor a direct view of the surface of your colon and rectum.10
A colonoscopy is used as a follow-up to a FIT or FOB test, or even as the first type of screening.6,11
A small flexible tube, called a colonoscope, is inserted into your rectum. Being small makes the colonoscope easy for the doctor to move through the bowel to thoroughly check for any problems.12
If the doctor notices anything unusual, they can take samples for analysis.12
Some problems can be treated there and then, such as an adenoma.5,6 This is because the doctor can use the small tube of the colonoscope to insert any tiny instruments required to carry out necessary procedures.10
1. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249. doi:10.3322/caac.21660.
2. Cardoso R, Guo F, Heisser T, et al. Overall and stage-specific survival of patients with screen-detected colorectal cancer in European countries: A population-based study in 9 countries. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. 2022; 21: 100458 doi:10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100458
3. UK Government (2024). Bowel Cancer Screening Annual Report 2021 to 2022. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bowel-cancer-screeningnnualreport- 2021-to-2022/bowel-cancer-screening-annual-report-2021-to-2022. Accessed 21 January 2025.
4. Wisse P, de Klaver W, van Wifferen F, et al. The multitarget faecal immunochemical test for improving stool-based colorectal cancer screening programmes: a Dutch population-based, paired-design, intervention study. The Lancet Oncology. 2024;25(3):326-337. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00651-4.
5. Zauber, AG. et al. Colonoscopic polypectomy and long-term prevention of colorectal-cancer deaths. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(8):687-696. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1100370.
6. National Health Service (2024). Causes of bowel cancer. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/. Accessed 21 January 2025.
7. Cancer Research UK (2024). How do I do a FIT test? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/FIT. Accessed 21 January 2025.
8. Cervantes, A. et al. Metastatic colorectal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2023;34(1):10-32.
9. Donald, MD. et al. Is It Time to Lower the Recommended Screening Age for Colorectal Cancer? J Am Coll Surg. 2011;213(3):352-361.
10. National Cancer Research Institute (2024). NCI Dictionary of Cancer. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/colonoscopy. Accessed 21 January 2025.
11. Argilés, G. et al. Localised colon cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(10)1291-1305.
12. National Health Service (2024). Causes of bowel cancer. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colonoscopy/what-happens-on-the-day/. Accessed 21 January 2025.
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