Wales lowers bowel screening age to 50, boosting early detection

Thousands more people in Wales will soon receive at-home bowel screening kits as part of a significant expansion in the fight against bowel cancer.

Starting from October 9, the screening programme will be extended to include 50-year-olds for the first time, marking a key step in catching the disease early when it is most treatable.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Wales, with over 2,000 people diagnosed each year.

However, early detection dramatically improves survival rates, with a 90% cure rate for cancers detected through screening.

Jeremy Miles, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, emphasised the importance of the programme, saying, “The earlier bowel cancer is diagnosed, the more treatable it’s likely to be. I urge everyone who is eligible to complete the test when received, because it really could save your life.”

The at-home testing process involves a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which is simple to use and highly sensitive in detecting bowel cancer.

Over the next year, 50-year-olds registered with a GP in Wales will gradually receive the kits, part of a wider effort to lower the screening age in line with UK National Screening Committee recommendations.

Head of Bowel Screening Wales at Public Health Wales Steve Court said:

“We are very pleased to welcome the expansion of the Bowel Screening Wales programme to include people aged 50 to 74.

“Early detection is vital in the fight against bowel cancer, and screening can catch signs of the disease before symptoms even appear.

“I strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to take part in this lifesaving programme when they receive their kit, as it can significantly improve survival rates by identifying cancer at an early, more treatable stage.”

The extended programme is the result of long-term campaigning by health groups, including Bowel Cancer UK.

Gerard McMahon, Head of Policy & Influencing (Devolved Nations) for Bowel Cancer UK, said:

“It’s fantastic that we’re continuing to see progress in the optimisation of the Wales bowel screening programme. We’ve long campaigned for the screening age to be lowered to 50, so it’s a huge milestone to see this in place.

“Nearly 2,400 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in Wales. With a robust screening programme in place, we can make sure that more people are diagnosed at an early stage, when the disease is easier to treat.

“We hope to see a continued commitment from the Welsh Government in optimising and ensuring proper funding of screening. We know there are still inequalities across the country when it comes to taking part in screening which must be tackled, and the current FIT sensitivity should continue to be improved in line with UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) recommendations.

“We look forward to working with the Welsh Government to deliver on these key objectives and ultimately improve survival of bowel cancer.”