Here’s who is eligible for NHS bowel cancer screening

• Bowel cancer is the UK's fourth most common cancer and second biggest cancer killer, yet it is treatable and curable if detected early.
• New data reveals that nearly a third (29 per cent) of eligible individuals in England are not completing their faecal immunochemical test (FIT) bowel cancer screening.
• The FIT test, which checks for blood in a poo sample, is automatically sent every two years to people aged 50-74 in England, Scotland, and Wales, or from the age of 60 in Northern Ireland.
• Uptake varies regionally across England, from 76 per cent in NHS Devon to a low of 56 per cent in NHS North West London.
• Early diagnosis is crucial, with survival rates over 90 per cent at stage one, highlighting the importance of completing the at-home screening test.

IN FULL

How to check if you are eligible for bowel cancer screening and what to expect