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| NHS home bowel-cancer tests to be extended to over-50s in England | NHS home bowel-cancer tests to be extended to over-50s in England |
| (6 months later) | |
| NHS England has sent the faecal-immunochemical test (Fit) to 54-74-year-olds in a phased rollout since 2021 | |
| All 50-74-year-olds in England will now receive a home-testing kit for bowel cancer every two years. | All 50-74-year-olds in England will now receive a home-testing kit for bowel cancer every two years. |
| NHS England has been posting the faecal-immunochemical test (Fit) to 54-74-year-olds in a phased rollout which began in 2021 and anyone older can request one over the phone. | |
| But after trials of local screening programmes for 50-year-olds, the age is now being lowered, bringing it in line with Scotland and Wales. | But after trials of local screening programmes for 50-year-olds, the age is now being lowered, bringing it in line with Scotland and Wales. |
| And more than 850,000 extra people in England will now be able to return a stool sample to be checked for blood. | And more than 850,000 extra people in England will now be able to return a stool sample to be checked for blood. |
| Northamptonshire's youngest patient diagnosed through the screening programme, Steven Ball, 54, submitted a positive sample last May. | Northamptonshire's youngest patient diagnosed through the screening programme, Steven Ball, 54, submitted a positive sample last May. |
| A colonoscopy at his local hospital detected a small lesion, found to be early-stage cancer. | A colonoscopy at his local hospital detected a small lesion, found to be early-stage cancer. |
| Keyhole surgery removed it, in July, and Mr Ball is now unlikely to need further treatment. | Keyhole surgery removed it, in July, and Mr Ball is now unlikely to need further treatment. |
| "My cancer was so small it didn't show up on a CT scan and it was caught at a very early stage and removed, which is the best thing that can happen, he told BBC News. | "My cancer was so small it didn't show up on a CT scan and it was caught at a very early stage and removed, which is the best thing that can happen, he told BBC News. |
| "It shows how important it is to do your stool test when it comes through the post and to get yourself checked out so you have peace of mind." | "It shows how important it is to do your stool test when it comes through the post and to get yourself checked out so you have peace of mind." |
| One out of every 50 of those who return samples needs further testing, which can include a scan, the NHS says | One out of every 50 of those who return samples needs further testing, which can include a scan, the NHS says |
| But less than 60% of 54-57-year-olds return their Fit kits, compared with more than 70% of 60-74-year-olds. | But less than 60% of 54-57-year-olds return their Fit kits, compared with more than 70% of 60-74-year-olds. |
| Cancer Research UK says more than 120 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer - the fourth most common type - each day in the UK, more than 11% of all new cancer cases. | Cancer Research UK says more than 120 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer - the fourth most common type - each day in the UK, more than 11% of all new cancer cases. |
| NHS England national clinical director for cancer Prof Peter Johnson urged people not to "feel embarrassed about poo", encouraging all those eligible to use the "quick and simple" Fit kit. | NHS England national clinical director for cancer Prof Peter Johnson urged people not to "feel embarrassed about poo", encouraging all those eligible to use the "quick and simple" Fit kit. |
| "What we do know is that the chances of surviving it are very good when it is caught early," he added. | "What we do know is that the chances of surviving it are very good when it is caught early," he added. |
| Bowel Cancer UK's research director Dr Lisa Wilde said: "Screening is one of the best ways to spot bowel cancer at an early stage - when it is treatable and curable. | Bowel Cancer UK's research director Dr Lisa Wilde said: "Screening is one of the best ways to spot bowel cancer at an early stage - when it is treatable and curable. |
| "In fact, more than nine in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it's diagnosed at the earliest stage." | "In fact, more than nine in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it's diagnosed at the earliest stage." |
| Correction 22 July 2025: This article was amended to make clear that distribution of Fit tests to 54-74-year-olds began in 2021 but was conducted in a phased rollout. |