Bowel cancer screening programmes

Bowel cancer screening programmes aim to detect early signs of colorectal cancer, improving treatment outcomes. They typically involve a test—like the fecal immunochemical test (FIT)—that checks for hidden blood in stool. If blood is found, further checks, such as a colonoscopy, are done to examine the inside of the colon and rectum. Screening is usually offered to adults aged 50 to 74 at regular intervals, increasing early diagnosis rates and reducing mortality. The goal is to catch cancer or precancerous changes early, when they are most treatable.