The NHS carried out nearly seven million bowel cancer screenings during 2024/25, saving the lives of tens of thousands of people.
These screenings mark a 67 percent growth, when compared with 4.7 million in 2014/15.
The NHS launched screenings two decades ago and has detected around 70, 000 cancers by testing almost 85 million people, and identified the risk of developing the diseases in nearly 270,000 people.
The bowel cancer screening programme is now available for people aged 50 to 74 years, whereas when it was launched it was available to the 60-74 age group.
The NHS is also sending around 8.7 million home-testing kits a year to people, providing easy accessibility to screenings. It even helps detect cancer among people with no symptoms.
NHS England national clinical director for cancer professor Peter Johnson said, “For anyone experiencing symptoms such as blood in their poo or severe stomach pain, no matter their age, you can speak to your GP and get it checked out as soon as possible, as well as completing your screening test when invited”.
Public health minister Sharon Hodgson said, “Bowel cancer screening prevents thousands of unnecessary deaths every single year, and this progress shows what can be achieved when the NHS focuses on catching cancer earlier.”
Bowel Cancer UK chief executive Genevieve Edwards said, “Bowel cancer is the UK’s 4th most common cancer, but it is treatable and curable, especially when diagnosed early. Screening is 1 of the best ways to spot the disease early or remove polyps that might develop into cancer, so please do take the test when you’re eligible for it.”
