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NHS England has launched a new campaign encouraging people to complete and return their free bowel cancer screening home test kit. This is after recent research has shown that one-third of people who were sent the screening kit in England last year didn’t complete it.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and it causes around 46 deaths every day. But, according to the NHS, detecting bowel cancer at its earliest stage could make you nine times more likely to receive successful treatment.
More than nine out of 10 cases of bowel cancer develop in adults over the age of 50. Therefore, NHS* England’s ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign is designed to encourage people aged 56 to 74 – who are eligible for routine screening every two years – to complete their test.
Many people rely on the idea that if they had cancer, they would have symptoms and, so, may not see the test as important if they feel fine. However, just a tiny poo sample can pick up signs of bowel cancer before you even notice anything is wrong – and could save your life.
With that said, we’ve partnered with the NHS to explain more about how bowel screening kits work, and how important they are when it comes to looking after our health.
What is the NHS bowel screening test kit?
The bowel screening test kit in England is called the faecal immunochemical test kit (or the FIT kit). It’s an at-home kit that you can use to take a sample of your poo to check for signs of bowel cancer.
You only need to collect one tiny sample of your poo using the plastic stick provided, before popping it in the sample bottle and posting it for free. All return packaging is provided so there’s no need to spend a penny.
Once the NHS receives your sample, they’ll check it for tiny traces of blood, which may not be visible to the naked eye. While blood isn’t always a sign of bowel cancer, if it’s found, the NHS will invite you for further testing – usually at the hospital – to rule it out.
Who’s eligible for the NHS bowel screening test kit?
If you’re aged 60 to 74, live in England, and are registered with a GP practice, you’ll be sent a bowel screening test kit in the post automatically, every two years. In order to make sure you receive your kit(s), you’ll need to make sure that your GP has your correct address.
As part of plans to lower the age of people that receive the test to age 50 by 2025, 56-year-olds are also now sent the test kit, and it’s currently being rolled out to 58-year-olds.
Over 75s can also ask to receive a bowel cancer screening kit every two years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
How to use the NHS bowel screening test kit
Once you receive your bowel screening test kit, it can be helpful to leave it somewhere visible where you’ll remember to grab it next time you head to the toilet for a poo. A helpful line from the new campaign recommends that ‘If you’re sent a kit, put it by the loo. Don’t put it off’.
The kit comes with step-by-step instructions to help you complete it quickly and easily from the comfort of your own home.
To show you just how simple the steps are, we’ve included them below…
- When you need to poo, write the date on the label of your sample bottle. If you don’t manage to do a poo on the date you’ve written down, remember to change the date to reflect the date you collect the sample.
- Find something to place inside the toilet to catch your poo – the NHS recommends using a plastic container lined with tissue. Make sure that your poo doesn’t come into contact with any pee or toilet water.
- Once you’ve done your poo, twist open the sample bottle to release the sampling stick. Then swipe it along the poo, filling all the grooves.
- Pop the stick back into the sample bottle, click the lid closed, and flush away your poo.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, then place your sample bottle in the pre-paid envelope, peel off the tape, and seal it shut.
- Postage is pre-paid so you don’t need a stamp – simply pop your envelope in a post box as soon as possible.
The NHS has also created an animation, with information on how to use your bowel screening test, which you can watch below…
How to get the results of your bowel screening test
You should receive the results of your bowel screening test within two weeks of sending it off. This will indicate whether further testing is needed.
Roughly 98 in 100 people don’t need further tests – but the ones who do will usually be invited for a colonoscopy. This is where a thin tube with a camera inside is passed into your bottom to look for signs of bowel cancer.
If you don’t hear anything about your test result, you can ring the free NHS bowel screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60.
Can piles affect the results of the bowel screening test kit?
Piles (haemorrhoids)* can cause blood to enter your poo, which may affect the results of your bowel screening test – making you more likely to get the result that requires you to have further tests.
However, it’s still important to attend any further tests to confirm that any traces of blood are caused by polyps alone and not cancer.
What do I do if someone I care for is sent the bowel screening test kit?
If you’re caring for someone who’s sent the bowel screening test kit and needs help using it, then it’s important to first help them understand the screening process. You’ll also need to get their permission before you can help them.
If they don’t have the capacity to give consent – perhaps because they don’t understand the process, have issues with communication, or can’t make a decision – then it’s worth seeking advice from a GP.
Their doctor should be able to use their knowledge of the person’s overall health to make a suggestion about what may be in the person’s best interest.
How reliable is bowel cancer screening?
Bowel cancer screening tests can be very helpful in detecting whether someone may have bowel cancer – however, no screening test is ever 100% reliable.
There’s always a chance that your test could produce a false result and cancer could be missed. Therefore, if you have symptoms or you’re worried about a family history of bowel cancer, you should speak to your GP for advice.
You can read more about the symptoms of bowel cancer in our article; 6 warning signs of bowel cancer.
Final thoughts…
Cancer can be a difficult topic for many of us to think about and talk about, but it’s important to make sure that we’re doing what we can to look after our health. This means taking part in the relevant screening programmes to give ourselves the best chance at successful treatment if we were to need it.
If you’ve received your bowel cancer screening test and haven’t yet completed it, then remember that your next poo could save your life – so it’s important not to put it off.
To find out more about bowel cancer screening, you can ring the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
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