People in their 50s urged to complete bowel cancer screening as participation lags

The NHS has urged people in their 50s to complete at-home bowel cancer tests, citing low participation rates compared to older age groups.

• NHS figures show a little over half of 54-year-olds returned screening kits last year, compared to 74% of those aged 70 to 74.
• NHS national clinical director Prof Peter Johnson said the tests detect cancer early and “could save your life.”
• The NHS said its screening programs diagnose at least 100 cancers per week on average.
• Johnson said the NHS is “concerned about the low numbers of people in their 50s returning their bowel screening kits.”