Lowering the bowel cancer screening age in Wales from 60 to 50 has more than doubled the number of cancers detected, according to new data released by the Welsh Government.
Since the rollout of the age expansion in 2021, annual bowel cancer diagnoses through the screening programme have risen from 211 (2020–21) to 457 (2023–24). The number of annual screening invitations has also increased from 223,000 to over 500,000, significantly boosting early detection rates.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Wales, with over 2,000 diagnoses each year. When caught early, it is treatable and curable, with survival rates increasing significantly.
The screening programme now offers tests to everyone aged 50 to 74 registered with a GP in Wales. Eligible individuals receive a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) kit by post every two years. The FIT test is easy to use, highly sensitive, and capable of detecting bowel cancer before symptoms appear.
Jeremy Miles, Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said:
“Preventing and treating cancer is a long-term commitment for us and early detection is vital to improve cancer outcomes.
“One year on from reducing the screening age to 50, these results speak for themselves. Finding cancer early is hugely beneficial to our health service and can mean the difference between life and death for the individual. So I urge everyone 50-years-old and over to take full advantage of the programme.
“We are also investing significantly and working with the NHS to ensure it has the capacity to investigate and treat more cancer cases in the long term.”
Screening not only helps detect cancer early but also identifies polyps – noncancerous growths that can be removed before they develop into cancer. This proactive approach is helping reduce the overall burden of bowel cancer and improve long-term outcomes for patients.
The Welsh Government’s decision to lower the screening age is part of a broader commitment to preventative healthcare, ensuring more people are diagnosed early and treated effectively.
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