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Bowel Cancer Awareness

Image of the torso pf someone in a light blue t-shirt holding a light blue ribbon, signifying bowel cancer awareness

What is Bowel Cancer?

Access bowel cancer information in audio here.

Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer. It affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.

Signs and Symptoms of Bowel Cancer

  • Bleeding from the bottom or blood in your poo
  • A pain or lump in your abdomen
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Change in bowel habits over 3 weeks – going more often, looser stools, constipation
  • Feeling that you’ve not emptied your bowels properly after you poo
  • Tiredness or breathlessness caused by lower level of red blood cells

Risks for Bowel Cancer

  • Diet – Many studies have shown that eating lots of red and processed meat and too little fibre increases the risk.
  • Getting older – Bowel cancer is more common in older people. More than 40 out of 100 bowel cancers (more than 40%) in the UK each year are diagnosed in people aged 75 or over.
  • Being overweight or obese – Obesity is a cause of bowel cancer. It is estimated that 11 out of 100 bowel cancers (11%) in the UK are linked to being overweight or obese.
  • Family History – Your risk is increased if you have a parent, brother or sister, son or daughter diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Bowel Cancer Screening

In England, you receive a screening kit if you’re aged between 54 and 74 years. Some people may now receive a test if they are over 50. This is because NHS England is gradually expanding this programme to also invite people aged between 50 and 59.

People aged 75 and over can request a screening kit every 2 years by contacting the bowel cancer screening programme on 0800 707 6060.

There has been a recent (January 2025) update from the NHS on bowel cancer screening in the UK which you can read here.

What is it?

Bowel screening aims to find cancer early or to find changes in your bowel that could lead to cancer.

How often do you have it?

People who can take part receive a testing kit every 2 years through the post. This kit comes from one of the National screening programmes in the UK. You need to be registered with a GP to receive your screening invitations.

How is it done?

The test is called FIT – Faecal Immunochemical Test. It looks for tiny traces of blood. You do the test at home. It is clean and simple. The kit contains instructions of what to do including a specially designed prepaid envelope to send the sample back.

You should get the results within a few weeks. The letter will tell you what you need to do next.

Benefits and risks

All cancer screening has both possible benefits (pros) and risks (cons). It’s important to read the information that comes with your screening invitation. It can help you decide whether you want to take part.

If you think you’re eligible for bowel cancer screening but you’ve not been invited, or had your test kit, call the helpline on 0800 707 6060.

If you need support with tasks such as registering with your GP, calling the helpline or reading the information sent with your test kit, you can contact Galloways for support here.

Here is audio information about the importance of undertaking home bowel cancer screening from the NHS here.

Further information and support

Macmillan Cancer Support

Cancer Research UK

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