Reducing the screening age in Wales from 60 to 50 over the past
four years has helped more than double the number of bowel
cancers detected in Wales.
Screening helps diagnose people at an earlier, and more
treatable, stage.
Since the introduction of the age expansion in 2021, bowel cancer
diagnoses have increased in the screening programme from 211 in
2020-21 to 457 in 2023-24. Annual invitations for screening
have increased from 223,000 to more than 500,000.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with more
than 2,000 people diagnosed every year in Wales.
But when caught in its early stages, the cancer is treatable,
curable and survival chances increase significantly.
Bowel screening is now offered to everyone registered with a GP
in Wales aged 50 to 74 years. Eligible individuals
receive a test kit automatically in the
post at 50-years-old (since October last year), and then
every two years afterwards.
Screening can help spot bowel cancer before symptoms start and
detect polyps – noncancerous growths – which can be removed and
prevent cancer from developing in the first place.
The screening process involves an easy-to-use faecal
immunochemical test (FIT), which has increased sensitivity and
can better detect bowel cancer, helping to increase the screening
uptake in men and women aged 50 to 74.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, , said:
“Preventing and treating cancer is a long-term commitment for us
and early detection is vital to improve cancer outcomes.
“One year on from reducing the screening age to 50 - these
results speak for themselves. Finding cancer early is hugely
beneficial to our health service and can mean the difference
between life and death for the individual. So I urge everyone
50-years-old and over to take full advantage of the programme.
“We are also investing significantly and working with the
NHS to ensure it has the capacity to investigate and treat more
cancer cases in the long term.”
Steve Court, Head of Programme for Bowel Screening Wales, said:
“The lowering of the screening age has been a major step forward
in the fight against bowel cancer in Wales. More people than ever
before are taking advantage of the home test kit, and more
cancers are being detected as a result. This means lives will be
saved: 9 out of 10 people survive bowel cancer if it is caught
early.
"I strongly encourage eligible people to take part when they
receive their test kit through the post. It's free, easy-to-use
and it could save your life."
