The NHS bowel cancer screening kit can save your life
NHS England has launched a new campaign called ‘Help Us, Help You’ to encourage people who have been sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit to complete the test. This is the first campaign of its kind nationally, and it’s available to you if you’re between 60 to 74 years old and registered with a GP practice in south east London.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the UK. Detecting it early on can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment, with up to nine times more likelihood of successful treatment. However, almost a third of people who were sent a bowel cancer screening test in England last year did not complete it.
The screening kit requires only a tiny sample to detect signs of cancer, even before any symptoms appear. It is a simple test that can be done in the privacy of your own bathroom. If you are between 60 to 74 years old and registered with a GP practice in England, you will receive the test automatically by post every two years. By 2025, this will be extended to include all 50 to 59 year-olds.
NHS England is urging anyone who is sent a bowel cancer screening test to complete it as soon as possible. The test is straightforward and can be done easily at home, so don’t delay or forget about it. Keeping the kit near your toilet is a good way to remember.
Put it by the loo. Don’t put it off. Your next poo could save your life.
For more information, please visit nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening