Screening for Bowel Cancer to start 10 years earlier

The Government has confirmed Bowel Cancer screening in England and Wales will start 10 years earlier to pick up more cases at an early stage.
Currently men and women aged 60 – 74 are invited for a screening, but an independent committee have recommended that home screening kits should be sent at the age of 50, as evidence shows that this would pick up more diagnoses at an earlier stage.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Public Health Minister Steve Brine have agreed the recommendations and NHS England and Public Health England are working on the best way to lower the screening process.
Professor Anne Mackie, director of screening at Public Health England. Said “We have a real opportunity to reshape our current bowel screening programme. Starting screening 10 years earlier will potentially detect abnormalities and early stages bowel cancer, but we recognise that implementing this change will take time.”
Bowel Cancer UK also welcome the move, but have called for NHS England and NHS Wales to ensure they have a sensible timeframe for implementation. “It’s vital that the NHS address how the current services will cope with the demand once the age has been lowered.”