Make your 'Number Two' your Number One priority!

Fear, embarrassment and disgust are among the reasons people ignore a simple home test that can detect bowel cancer early.

Since the NHS national bowel screening programme was extended to include people aged 50 and over earlier this year, tens of thousands more are automatically receiving a home test kit through the post every two years.

The kit, known as the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), checks for blood in a small poo sample, which can be a sign of bowel cancer.

Across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw (SYB), uptake of the test in the 50 to 59 age group remains much lower than in the 60 to 74 age group.

Alice Patterson is a Health Improvement Practitioner for the SYB bowel cancer screening programme. She said: “So far in 2025, uptake in 50 to 59 age group across Barnsley, Bassetlaw, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield has been 57%, compared to 72% in the 60 to 74 age group.

“We also know that uptake in 2025 is much lower amongst people living in more deprived areas, currently at 54%, compared to those living in less deprived areas, at 78%.”

Alice and her colleagues work in diverse communities, holding awareness events and different initiatives across the region to engage with more people, aiming to reduce inequalities and increase screening uptake.

She added: “There is no need to feel embarrassed about poo – the home test is quick and simple to use. It comes in discreet packaging with simple instructions and is done in the privacy of your own home. It can detect signs of bowel cancer, often before symptoms appear, so please do make it a number one priority and return your freepost FIT kit if you are sent one.”

In the 30 months to March 2024, records across SYB showed that 68,000 hadn’t taken up invitations for bowel cancer screening.

Alice added: “We know many people fear completing the test correctly and others fear the possible results saying they’d rather not know. But regular screening reduces both the risk of getting bowel cancer and the risk of dying from the condition. So please don’t ignore it.”

You can stay up to date with health promotion events and activities in your area on:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowelcancerscreening_syb/
• Facebook: South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Bowel Cancer Screening Programme

For more information about bowel cancer symptoms, options for screening and the home test kit visit: Bowel cancer screening | Bowel Cancer UK | Bowel Cancer UK or you can call the screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.