The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers free home test kits to people aged 50-74 and registered with a GP, every two years. The simple test looks for tiny amounts of blood in poo, which can be an early sign of bowel cancer or polyps (small growths) that could develop into cancer.
Regular screening saves lives by finding cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most effective – often before any symptoms appear.
Important: If you have symptoms of bowel cancer at any age, always see your GP, even if you have recently completed a screening test.
About the bowel cancer screening programme:
It is a way of testing people to see if they show any early signs of cancer, when treatment has the best chance of working.
It is important to complete bowel cancer screening, even if you feel fit and healthy. When it is your turn, you will automatically be sent a test kit to complete and send back
You need to be registered with a GP to receive the kit (anyone can register with a GP for free).
- You should check that your GP has the most up-to-date home address for you, as this is where your kit will be sent.
- Bowel screening in England is for anyone aged 50-74
- If you’re aged 75 or over, you can ask for a screening test by calling the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60
- Call the screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60 or visit the NHS website for more information about bowel screening in England.
Resources and support
How to use the kit: Watch the step-by-step NHS video
More information about bowel screening:
Thames Valley Cancer Alliance resources
We have created a set of interactive style videos about the NHS cancer screening programmes, available in Hindi, Polish, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi and British Sign Language (BSL). These are designed to support conversations between GPs and patients about the benefits of cancer screening and how it works. Watch our screening videos here