Bowel cancer screening saves lives, but we need to reach everyone
Monday 26 January 2026
Bowel Cancer UK CEO, Genevieve Edwards, shares our opinion on the news that the NHS will increase sensitivity of bowel cancer screening in England.
Today’s news on bowel cancer screening in England is cause for celebration. Early diagnosis literally saves lives. Around nine in ten people survive when bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stages. Screening helps make that possible, by spotting cancer earlier and giving people the best chance of effective treatment.
Increasing the sensitivity of bowel cancer screening is great news. The more sensitive the test, the more likely we are to find cases of bowel cancer earlier, and the higher the chance of a successful outcome for more people.
While the test itself doesn’t tell you if you have cancer, it can trigger further investigations. Scotland and Wales already screen for bowel cancer at this sensitivity, so it’s welcome news that England is now doing the same.
Changes like this make a real difference to people’s lives and show what’s possible when we keep early diagnosis as a priority. It’s exactly the approach we want to see in the forthcoming National Cancer Plan.
But we need to do more to improve screening for everyone. Despite clear evidence that it works, there are still some people not accessing the screening they’re eligible for. We also know that not enough people know the symptoms of bowel cancer or know what to do if they are worried, meaning diagnosis can be delayed.
This must change. Currently one in four people diagnosed with bowel cancer are being diagnosed in emergency settings like A&E when it’s more likely to be advanced, and harder to treat.
That’s why the National Cancer Plan for England matters so much. It must build on today’s screening progress, while also meeting the gaps that screening alone cannot fill.
We welcome progress on bowel cancer screening, but progress must deliver for everyone.
- Find out more about bowel cancer screening
- Learn more about the symptoms of bowel cancer
- Support our campaigning work
