We did it! Northern Ireland to offer bowel cancer screening to people in their 50s

We're delighted by today’s announcement that Northern Ireland will begin to offer bowel cancer screening to people in their 50s, in line with the rest of the UK. This means thousands more people will have the opportunity to take part in screening helping to find bowel cancer earlier, when it’s easier to treat and chances of survival are higher.

Bowel cancer screening is for people without symptoms. It uses a simple test completed at home, which can detect tiny amounts of blood in a poo sample. Screening can help detect bowel cancer at an earlier stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful. It can also help find precancerous polyps (growths), which can then be removed before cancer develops.

Up until now, Northern Ireland has invited people from the ages of 60-74, but elsewhere in the UK people from the age of 50 have been invited.

David McCarter from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 58 after noticing blood in his poo and welcomes the opportunity for more people to access bowel cancer screening. He says: “I’m delighted to hear that bowel cancer screening is being extended to people from the age of 50. Having been diagnosed with bowel cancer myself at 58, I know just how important it is to find the disease early.

“Thankfully, I acted when I noticed something had changed and my cancer was diagnosed at an early stage. I’m now cancer-free and have been able to get on with life, including travelling, gardening and going to the gym. But if screening had been available to me from when I was 50, there may have been a chance to find the cancer earlier, or even prevent it from developing in the first place.

“More people survive bowel cancer when it is found at an early stage, and extending screening to people in their 50s means more people will have that opportunity. I hope this change will help save lives and give many more families the kind of positive outcome I’ve been thankful enough to have.”

The invitation of more people into the bowel cancer screening programme will take place in a phased roll-out over the next four years, with the programme reaching everyone from age 50 to 74 by 2031. It’s expected to begin with people aged 59 from 2 November 2026 and then 58-year-olds from April 2027, with progressively younger age groups invited over the following years.

The announcement follows years of campaigning by Bowel Cancer UK, people affected by bowel cancer and clinicians, alongside growing support from across the political parties in Northern Ireland. Over a third of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) backed our call for people in their 50s to be offered screening. It shows what can be achieved when people affected by bowel cancer, clinicians, charities and politicians work together to make the case for change.

As the extended programme is more established, we hope Northern Ireland will consider making the screening test more sensitive. This will help identify even more people who could benefit from further investigation.

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Today’s announcement is a major step forward for people across Northern Ireland and a moment to celebrate. This extension will give thousands of people up to five extra opportunities to take part in bowel cancer screening and could help more cancers be found earlier, when the disease is easier to treat and the chances of survival are higher.

"We look forward to working with Northern Ireland’s Department of Health and health services to support the safe and timely roll out of the programme. Our focus now is on seeing this commitment delivered in full and encouraging as many people as possible to complete their screening test when it arrives.”

Dr Jonathan Dillon, a former bowel cancer patient and GP Principal in Banbridge, Co Down, said: “I’m delighted to see the decision to extend bowel cancer screening to people aged 50–74 living in Northern Ireland. As both a GP and someone who has experienced bowel cancer myself, I know how important early diagnosis can be. Extending screening will give more people the opportunity to find bowel cancer at an earlier stage, when it is more likely to be treated successfully, and could ultimately save many lives. I’d like to thank Bowel Cancer UK for its tireless campaigning and for continuing to champion evidence-based approaches to bowel cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.”

What you can do:

• Take part in bowel cancer screening. It’s one of the best ways to spot the disease early, when it's more likely to be treatable and curable. 
• Campaign with us. Sign up as a campaign supporter to help us improve early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care for all those affected.
• Share your story with us. By raising awareness of your experience of bowel cancer, we can reach more people and help save more lives. 
• Know the symptoms of bowel cancer. Whatever your age, if you’re experiencing symptoms of bowel cancer like bleeding from your bottom, blood in your poo or a change in your pooing habits, please contact your GP to ask for an at-home test. Do not wait to be invited for bowel cancer screening.
• Fundraise for us. Help achieve a future where nobody dies of bowel cancer.
• Spread the word about how we can support people who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer and their loved ones.