Bowel Cancer Screening in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw

Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK, with almost 44,000 people diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. 94% of new cases are found in people aged over 50.

The NHS bowel cancer screening programme aims to:

Detect bowel cancer at an early stage when it is easier to treat
Find polyps, which may turn into cancer over time if not removed

The South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Bowel Cancer Screening Programme covers Bassetlaw, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield

NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme

South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Bowel Cancer Screening Centre is part of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

Bowel cancer screening is a test you do at home that checks for signs of bowel cancer.

Why bowel cancer screening is done

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK.

Bowel cancer screening uses a test called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to look for blood in a sample of your poo. This could be a sign of bowel cancer.

You collect the sample at home and send it by post to be tested.

It can help find cancer early, and before you have any symptoms, which may mean it’s easier to treat.

Who bowel screening is for

Bowel cancer screening is offered to everyone aged 50 to 74 every 2 years. This is because your risk of getting bowel cancer gets higher as you get older.

You can also get screening for bowel cancer every 2 years if you’re aged 75 or over, but you need to call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060 and ask for the test.

How to get a bowel cancer screening home test (FIT kit)

If you’re aged 50 to 74 and registered with a GP, you’ll automatically get a bowel cancer screening home test kit (FIT kit) through the post every 2 years.

If you’re aged 75 or over, you can ask for a home test kit every 2 years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

If you do not have a permanent home address, you can ask your GP surgery for your test kit to be sent to the GP surgery or to another address.

How to do a bowel cancer screening home test (FIT kit)

You can do the bowel cancer screening test at home.

Your test kit (FIT kit) should include a sample bottle, an envelope, and instructions on how to do the test.

To do the FIT kit:

Write the date on the sample bottle.
Use a clean container to catch your poo. Do not let your poo touch the toilet water. This can be a bit difficult, and you may need to try a few times.
Open the sample bottle and remove the lid, which has a sample stick attached.
Gently scrape the end of the sample stick along your poo until all the grooves are covered. Only a small amount is needed.
Put the sample stick back into the sample bottle and close the lid tightly.
Wash your hands.
Check you’ve written the date you did the sample on the sample bottle.
Put the sample bottle in the envelope included in your test kit and seal it.
Post the envelope with your sample as soon as you can. Postage is free and you do not need a stamp.

Your poo sample will be tested to check if it contains blood. Having blood in your poo may be a sign of bowel cancer.

How to use your NHS bowel cancer screening FIT kit

Watch the bowel cancer screening test video with translated subtitles or British Sign Language.

Getting the results of your bowel cancer screening home test

You’ll usually get the results of your bowel cancer screening home test (FIT kit) within 2 weeks after sending your poo sample. Sometimes it can take longer.

You will get a letter telling you the results.

Sometimes you may be asked to do the test again. This is usually to make sure the test has been done properly and gives the correct result.

If you do not get your results within 2 weeks, you can call the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

What the results of a bowel cancer screening test mean

No further tests needed:

If your result says no further tests are needed it means no blood was found in your poo. You do not need to do anything else.
Most people have this result.
You’ll automatically be offered bowel cancer screening again in 2 years if you’re aged between 54 and 74.
Even if bowel cancer screening shows you do not need further tests, it does not always mean you do not have bowel cancer. There’s still a chance you may get bowel cancer in the future. It’s important to know the symptoms of bowel cancer and to see your GP if you have symptoms you’re worried about.

Further tests needed:

If your result says you need further tests, it means blood was found in your poo sample. You may see or hear this referred to as a 'positive test result'. A positive test result i.e. blood in your poo sample, does not necessarily mean you have cancer, but it does need further investigation.

You will be invited to an appointment with a specialist nurse who will talk to you about your results, and what will happen next. You will usually be advised to have a colonoscopy, which is the best available test. A colonoscopy [Bowel cancer screening: having a colonoscopy - GOV.UK] is a procedure where a camera is used to look inside your bowel.

The most likely outcomes of a colonoscopy are:

finding nothing
finding a non-cancerous cause of bleeding e.g. Piles [Piles (haemorrhoids) - NHS], diverticular disease or diverticulitis [Diverticular disease and diverticulitis - NHS], ulcerative colitis [Ulcerative colitis - NHS], or Crohn's disease [Crohn's disease - NHS]
polyps found that can be easily removed without further concern

Less than 10% of patient with a positive FIT (blood in your poo sample) are diagnosed with cancer. If cancer is found through bowel cancer screening, it is likely to be detected early, which means it is more likely to be able to be surgically removed and cured.

Diagram showing results for every 100 people having a colonoscopy.

Patients in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw can choose to have their colonoscopy at:

If blood is found in your poo, it does not always mean you have cancer. There are more common and less serious causes of blood in your poo, such as an anal fissure or bowel polyps.

Help and support from the bowel cancer screening helpline

If you think you’re eligible for bowel cancer screening but you’ve not been invited, or had your test kit, call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

It’s your choice if you want to have bowel cancer screening. Screening does not stop you getting bowel cancer, but it is the best way to find cancer at an early stage.

If you do not want to be invited for screening, call the bowel cancer screening helpline to be taken off the screening list. You can ask to be put back on the list any time if you change your mind.

You can call the bowel cancer screening programme helpline on 0800 707 6060 for more information about bowel cancer screening, including:

how to get a FIT kit
how to use the FIT kit
what to do if you’re unsure whether you can use a FIT kit, for example, if you’ve had bowel surgery or you have a stoma
getting your FIT kit and screening information in alternative formats, including Braille and other languages

The helpline is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Calls are free of charge. You can also use Relay UK by dialling 18001 before the helpline number from a textphone, or use the Relay UK app. More information about bowel cancer screening

Health promotion

The team also regularly attends events, from small community meetings to large festivals, to raise awareness of bowel screening, provide information, answer questions, and reduce stigma.

Places we have attended over the past year include:

Rotherham Show
Ferham Festival
Owls in the Park
ShipShape Community Hub
Darnall Well Being
Age UK Barnsley BOPPAA exercise classes
Doncaster FIT Rovers
Madina Mosque
Firvale Community Hub
Parson Cross Community Development Forum

Follow our pages on social media to stay up to date with our Health Promotion events and activities:

If you have suggestions of events we could attend, or community groups that you think would benefit from learning more about bowel cancer screening, please contact us by telephone, email, or by filling out this short form

Patient stories

Take Action to Live Longer - David and John's Stories

Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where it starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer. Visit the NHS website for more information: Bowel cancer - NHS

Symptoms of bowel cancer include:

changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
blood in your poo, which may look red or black
bleeding from your bottom
often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
tummy pain
a lump in your tummy
bloating
losing weight without trying
feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer

It is important to see your GP if you have any of these symptoms for three weeks or more.

Learn more here: Symptoms of bowel cancer - NHS