Bowel cancer screening

This page is for: 

• Public who needs clear accessible information about the bowel cancer screening, who it is for, how it works and how to make an informed choice about taking part.
• Professionals who need overview of the screening programme to support conversations with patients and signpost to further information.
• Young people who need general awareness of bowel cancer screening, even if not currently eligible
• Older people who need eligibility information, importance of screening, and support to decide whether to take part.
• Carers, family members who need information to help support and encourage eligible people to understand and consider screening or initiate conversations with eligible family members.

Bowel cancer is cancer of the large bowel (colon or rectum).

It often starts as small growths called polyps. These are usually harmless, but some can develop into cancer over time.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Northern Ireland. 

• It is more common in older people.
• Risk increases as you get older
• It can affect both men and women

Bowel cancer often has no symptoms at an early stage, but when found early, treatment is more successful.

For more information, visit: Bowel cancer I nidirect.

Bowel cancer screening helps find cancer early, before symptoms develop.

Bowel cancer screening is for people who feel well and do not have symptoms.

The programme began in Northern Ireland in 2010.

If you are in the eligible age range and registered with a GP, you will be invited to take part every two years.

Taking part is your choice. Being aware of the benefits and risks can help you decide. 

Benefits

Screening can:

• Detect cancer at an early stage
• Make treatment more effective
• Find and remove polyps before they become cancer
• Help reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer

Risks

There are certain risks:

• treatment might cause complications, for example during or after colonoscopy
• screening might miss a cancer if it was not bleeding when you completed the test

You will be invited for screening every two years if you:

• Are aged 59 to 74
• Are registered with a GP in Northern Ireland

This is because your risk of getting bowel cancer increases with age.

The age range for bowel cancer screening will be gradually extended over the next five years. It is planned that all people aged 50-74 will be invited for bowel cancer screening by 2031.

A Factsheet with some Frequently Asked Questions about age extension is available at - Bowel cancer screening age extension: frequently asked questions

Screening uses the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to look for tiny amounts of blood in your poo. This is not usually not visible. 

How the test works:

You will receive a test kit in the post, so it is important that your GP has your correct address.

You collect a small sample of your poo at home using the test stick provided.

You send the sample to a laboratory in the pre-paid envelope as soon as possible. 

Remember to write the date you took the sample on the test kit and seal the return envelope before putting it in the post box.

Delays in returning your kit may prevent the sample from being processed.

Do not let anyone else complete your kit.

Instructions are included with your kit.

• View instructions:  Bowel cancer screening: how to take the test
• Watch how to complete the test: Cancer Research UK animated video on how to complete the test 

Your results

You should receive your results within two weeks.

No further tests needed
Most people will have a normal result.
This means no, or only a very small amount of blood was found.
You will be invited again in two years.

Further tests needed
If blood is found, you may be offered more tests. This does not always mean cancer.
Other possible causes include:

• Polyps
• Haemorrhoid
• Inflammation

You will be asked to contact the freephone helpline (0800 015 2514) who will arrange an appointment with a Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP) about the next steps.

The SSP will assess your fitness for further investigations 

Further testing (colonoscopy)

If needed, you may be offered a colonoscopy.

This test:

• looks inside your bowel using a small camera
• can remove polyps during the procedure

There is a small risk of complications. This will be explained to you before the test.

A screening test cannot tell if you have bowel cancer.

It identifies:

• who needs more tests
• who does not need more tests

Bowel cancer can cause a range of symptoms.

 As the screening test looks for blood, the screening test may not identify all bowel cancers if there is no bleeding.

If you are concerned about bowel cancer symptoms, you should contact your GP, even if your last screening test was clear.

It is possible for cancer to develop between tests.

You may not need to complete the bowel cancer screening test if you:

• have had bowel surgery
• are being treated for bowel cancer
• are awaiting bowel investigations

If you think you are in any of these categories and you receive a test kit, contact the Bowel Cancer Screening freephone helpline on 0800 015 2514 for advice.

You can reduce your risk of bowel cancer by:

• eating a healthy diet
• being active
• maintaining a healthy weight
• limiting alcohol
• stopping smoking

• Bowel cancer screening | nidirect - general information about bowel cancer screening in Northern Ireland
• Be Cancer Aware - information on symptoms of cancer
• Bowel cancer - general information about bowel cancer 
• Bowel polyps - information about bowel polyps, how they develop and how they are treated
• Bowel cancer screening | Bowel Cancer UK - detailed information about screening, how it works and what results mean