Diagnosing bowel cancer
People with some conditions have a higher risk of getting bowel cancer at a younger age than usual. They might see a specialist team and have screening earlier than the normal UK bowel cancer screening programmes.
Up to 5 out of 100 bowel cancers (up to 5%) are due to certain conditions passed on through families (inherited). These are called inherited cancer syndromes.
Screening aims to detect cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to work. It can also help to prevent bowel cancer from developing in the first place.
There is a risk that you could get another new bowel cancer if you have had bowel cancer in the past.
You are offered colonoscopies after treatment for bowel cancer. At the moment, the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) say these should be:
around 1 year after treatment
around 4 years after treatment
In England, people aged 75 and over can request a screening kit every 2 years by contacting the bowel cancer screening programme on 0800 707 6060.
See your GP if you have symptoms that could be caused by bowel cancer
Last reviewed: 09 Dec 2024
Next review due: 09 Dec 2027
You might have a number of tests to check for bowel cancer. This includes a test that looks for tiny traces of blood in a sample of poo (FIT) and a test to look at the inside of your bowel (colonoscopy).
Bowel cancer screening aims to check for bowel cancer or abnormalities that could lead to bowel cancer. There are separate bowel screening programmes for the different countries in the UK.
Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer. It affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.
The stage of a cancer tells you how far it has grown through the bowel wall and whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs. It helps your doctor to know which treatment you need.
Bowel cancer means cancer that starts in the colon (large bowel) or back passage (rectum). It is also known as colorectal cancer.
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