Bowel cancer screening
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, can occur anywhere in the colon or rectum. In the UK, bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in men (after prostate and lung cancer). It is the second most common cancer in women (after breast cancer).
The NHS bowel cancer screening programme aims to help detect bowel cancer at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be effective.
Men and women aged between 60 and 69 are being invited to take part in the screening prorgamme. They will be sent a simple test kit, along with step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home. Further support is available from the freephone helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
Information on NHS bowel cancer screening is available in a variety of alternative languages and formats from the national screening website.
