PEOPLE aged between 55 – 57 in Wales are now eligible for a Bowel Cancer Screening, Public Health Wales has confirmed.

The move will see 172,000 more people in Wales receive easy to use kits that test for the early stages of the disease.

The screening is part of a £16 million investment package by the Welsh Government to introduce new, easier to use, FIT home testing kits.

The new kits have helped improve screening uptake to 65% and have improved sensitivity to better detect those at risk of bowel cancer.

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In 2019 alone, over 2,500 people were diagnosed with bowel and screening plays an important role in detecting cancer earlier and helps to improve cancer outcomes in Wales.

The Leader: Wrexham County Borough Council Wrexham County Borough Council (Image: Wrexham County Borough Council)

The lowering of the screening age comes based on the recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee.

Dr Sharon Hillier, Director of the Screening Division at Public Health Wales, said: “I’m delighted that we are expanding the bowel cancer screening programme to include those aged 55, 56 and 57 in Wales.

“Bowel screening aims to find cancer at an early stage when treatment is likely to be more effective. Early detection is so important as at least 9 out of 10 people will survive bowel cancer if it’s found and treated early. Bowel screening also detects and removes pre-cancerous polyps that if left in the bowel could develop into cancer.

“The invitation and test kit will be arriving via post to those who are eligible over the next 12 months. The test kit is easy to complete and to send to our laboratory for analysis.

“I would urge everyone who receives an invitation to take up their offer as it could save their life.”