Bowel Cancer Screening: Understanding Current Guidelines
Expert advice from **Dr. Zoe Williams** on bowel cancer screening and prostate health concerns.
Many over 75s are unsure of current NHS bowel cancer screening guidelines; **Dr. Zoe Williams** clarifies the rules and explains options for prostate cancer screening.
Bowel Cancer Screening: What You Need to Know
For those aged 50–74 registered with a general practitioner in the UK, the NHS automatically sends a bowel cancer screening home test (FIT kit) every two years.
The lower age threshold was recently reduced to 50, due to campaigns advocating for extended testing to increase the chances of early detection and ultimately save lives.
Individuals aged 75 and over can still request a home test kit every two years by contacting the bowel cancer screening helpline at 0800 707 6060.
Over 70s and Breast Screening
Similarly, women over 71 can opt for breast screening every three years, but they must proactively request an appointment as they will no longer receive automatic invitations.
Prostate Cancer Screening: PSA Tests
Currently, there is no national NHS screening program for prostate cancer; however, men aged 50 and over in the UK can request a PSA blood test.
Before requesting a PSA test, men should research the advantages and disadvantages to aid them in making an informed decision. Prostate Cancer UK offers resources, including a risk checker, on its website.
Some men are at an increased risk and would likely benefit more from PSA testing. These men include black men over 45, men over 45 with a family history of prostate cancer, and men with confirmed genetic risk factors such as the BRCA2 gene variation.
Early detection of bowel cancer is critical; Cancer Research UK reports that survival rates are more than 90% when the disease is diagnosed at its earliest stage (Cancer Research UK).
