Bowel cancer screening

The screening can also detect polyps, which are non-cancerous (benign) growths that may develop into cancer over time. Polyps can easily be removed, which reduces the risk of bowel cancer developing.

Bowel cancer screening has been introduced in the UK after studies showed that regular screening can reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16% (1 in 6).

Bowel cancer screening programmes vary in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland:

These bowel screening programmes aim to find bowel cancer at a very early stage, when it has the best chance of being cured.

Screening isn’t appropriate for you if you:

• have had bowel investigations (such as a colonoscopy or barium enema) in the last two years
• are being treated for bowel cancer
• have had your large bowel removed
• are being treated for Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• are on a bowel polyp surveillance programme
• are waiting for bowel investigations that have been arranged by your GP.

The faecal occult blood (FOB) test| is the first stage of bowel screening.