Over 50? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Bowel Screening

Eating whole foods supports a healthy gut and lowers your cancer risk.

As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we recently held awareness pop-up stalls across F4HG practice sites in Newham — at Stratford Village Surgery, E7 Health, and Church Road Health — to encourage conversations about gut health and the importance of NHS bowel cancer screening.

We were thrilled to see so many people stop by, ask questions, and pick up useful resources. Most importantly, we spoke with many individuals aged 50 and over who weren’t aware they could request a free home screening kit — or had simply forgotten to complete one.

Why screening matters

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK — but it’s highly treatable when caught early. The NHS offers screening every two years to those aged 54 to 74, using a simple home test called the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). It checks for hidden blood in your poo, which can be an early warning sign of cancer.

The good news? The programme is now expanding to include people aged 50 and over, so more people than ever can benefit.

Missed your kit? You can still request one

✔️ Call 0800 707 60 60 to request your free NHS bowel screening kit

✔️ Do the test at home – quick, simple, and potentially life-saving

✔️ Don’t wait for symptoms – screening is for people who feel well

Thank you to everyone who engaged with our pop-ups. These conversations matter — and so does your health.

If you’re over 50, check your post or call today. Let’s beat bowel cancer together.

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