About bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening involves having tests to check if you have or are at risk of bowel cancer.

Find out more here:

• NHS Bowel cancer screening
• NHS Hereford and Worcester video library - Screening

Who can have bowel screening

NHS bowel cancer screening checks are available to everyone aged 60 to 74 years.

The programme is expanding to make it available to everyone aged 50 to 59 years. This is happening gradually over 4 years and started in April 2021.

Why it is important 

Read about why it is important to have the bowel cancer screening here: 

• Bowel cancer screening: benefits and risks (GOV.UK)

How the screening is done

Read how bowel scope screening is done here: 

• Bowel scope screening (NHS)
• Home bowel screening test (NHS)
• Bowel cancer screening: (easy read guide) - GOV.UK

About bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is a common type of cancer in both men and women. About 1 in 20 people will get it during their lifetime. To learn what the symptoms are visit the NHS website:

• NHS Choices - Bowel cancer symptoms

If you have symptoms of bowel cancer, see your GP immediately.