Home bowel cancer tests for over-50s

People aged 50 to 74 in Lincolnshire will be offered a home-testing kit for bowel cancer every two years starting in April, health bosses say.

The Lincolnshire bowel cancer screening team said it was part of the first wave of areas nationally to introduce the change, aimed at helping to detect the potential signs of bowel cancer earlier.

The kit, known as the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), will be offered to everyone within the age range who is registered with a GP.

People aged over 74 can request a screening kit.

NHS England announced the change to the national programme in January.

It estimates the move could help detect about 600 more bowel cancers early each year in England – an increase of 11%, as well as finding 2,000 more people with high-risk polyps in their bowel, allowing patients to have treatment before any cancers develop.

Kirstie Cartledge, lead specialist screening practitioner at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This lower threshold for testing will capture more bowel cancers, where you might be showing no symptoms even earlier.

"We hope this will support improved outcomes for Lincolnshire's residents.

"If you get a test kit in the post, please complete and return it. It can truly be a lifesaver."

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