Bowel cancer screening

About 1 in 20 people will get bowel cancer in their life. It affects men and women.

Screening can help detect bowel cancer early, when it's easier to treat.

How it works

You use a home test kit to do the screening.

If you're 60 to 74, you'll be sent a kit every 2 years. The programme is expanding to eventually include those aged 50-59, so currently 56 year olds, and some 58 year olds, are also eligible for screening.

If you're 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years. Call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

If you're younger than 56 and you're worried because you have a family history of bowel cancer, speak to your GP.

Call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60 if you have not been sent a test and you think you need one.

Bowel cancer symptoms

You can read about symptoms of bowel cancer on the NHS website.

If you have symptoms that you are worried about you can request an appointment.

Follow-up appointments for bowel screening

Further information on what happens during a follow-up appointment can be found below.

Further information on bowel screening

You can find information about bowel cancer from: