Charity hails bowel cancer test and calls for UK roll-out

A new simpler bowel cancer test being introduced in Scotland will save more lives, a nationwide charity has claimed.

Bowel Cancer UK has called for the test, which allows participants to return just one sample rather than three, to be rolled out across the rest of the UK.

Deborah Alsina, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “We very much welcome the introduction of the new FIT home screening kit which is a positive step for Scotland in encouraging even more people to participate in screening.

“It’s a move that we would like to see replicated in other parts of the UK. It’s critical that more lives are saved by ensuring higher levels of participation in screening, early diagnosis really does save lives.”

The new FIT home screening test (faecal immunochemical test), will be introduced over the next two years to help boost uptake in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme from its current level of 56.1%.

It’s a move that we would like to see replicated in other parts of the UK. It’s critical that more lives are saved by ensuring higher levels of participation in screening, early diagnosis really does save lives

The existing test has proved hugely valuable in detecting cancer early and remains the most effective way of detecting bowel cancer in its earliest stages.

The cancer however continues to affect just under 4,000 people in Scotland every year and is Scotland’s second biggest cancer killer with 1,600 deaths a year.

Those aged 50-74 will continue to be targeted to complete and return any test they receive through their door during the transition period.

The announcement of the test was made by health secretary Shona Robison who joined cancer clinicians, charities and patients to mark the three year anniversary of the Scottish Government’s £30 million Detect Cancer Early (DCE) programme, which has received an additional £9 million commitment for 2015/16.

Professor Robert Steele, director of the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme, added: “It’s fair to say that Scotland has taken several strides in the last three years towards making bowel screening a social norm and we expect the introduction of the new bowel screening test will continue to drive uptake rates in the national screening programme, saving more lives.”