Government urges more men to take up bowel cancer screening

The Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid and the NHS are calling on men over 60 to speak to their GP about bowel cancer symptoms and to take up potentially lifesaving screening tests.

Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year and 16,500 unfortunately die from it, making it one of the most common cancers in England.

Yet just 1 in 20 British people would go to the doctor if they had symptoms of bowel cancer, including constipation, blood in faeces, stomach cramps, excess gas and bloating.

A home testing kit called the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) 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.

The government is investing £2.3 billion to roll out 160 Community Diagnostic Centres, 81 of which have already opened. They offer patients rapid access to clinical tests and life-saving checks close to their home.

The centres have already delivered 775,000 additional tests and by 2025, the NHS will be able to carry out 9 million additional diagnostic tests. This will help reduce waiting times so that 95% of patients needing a diagnostic test receive it within six weeks by March 2025.

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% of pre-Covid levels and pre-pandemic performance has been restored.

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.’

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.

Bowel cancer is most common in people aged over 60 and the NHS offers screening to check for signs of cancer every two years to those aged 60-74. This reduces the risk of dying from bowel cancer by at least 25% and saves at least 2,500 lives a year.

Photo by Tim Marshall