Why is bowel screening important?
This page explains what bowel screening is and why it is important.
What is bowel screening?
Bowel cancer and Scotland
Bowel Cancer is the third most common cancer in Scotland.
Around 4000 people in Scotland get bowel cancer every year.
How common is bowel cancer?
It is more common in people over 50, especially men.
Bowel screening test
The bowel screening test looks for small amounts of blood in your poo that you cannot see.
The test helps to find cancer at an early stage.
Who should be screened?
Aged 50 to 74
If you are aged 50 to 74, you will be sent a bowel screening test kit every 2 years.
Aged over 74
If you are over 74 years old, you can still take a bowel screening test every 2 years. You will need to request a new test kit each time.
You will not be sent one automatically.
You can order a test free of charge by contacting the NHS Scotland bowel screening centre.
Call: 0800 0121 833 (textphone 18001 0800 0121 833).
Benefits and risks
Benefits of screening
Bowel screening can help find bowel cancer early before you have any signs or symptoms.
More people survive bowel cancer if it is found and treated early.
The test can be done at home.
Risks of screening
The test can help find most bowel cancers but it cannot
find them all.
It is important to do the test every time you are invited
It is important to look out for symptoms of bowel cancer and let your GP know if you notice any of them.
