Bowel cancer screening aims to find signs of bowel cancer or early changes before there are any symptoms.
Finding bowel cancer early makes it easier to treat.
People aged 50 to 74 are invited for bowel screening every two years.
You will be sent a home kit to test is there is any blood in your poo, called a FIT kit.
The test is easy to do at home.
To see how to do it, watch our video:
Key facts
If you are aged 50 to 74 and registered with a GP practice, you will automatically get an NHS bowel cancer screening kit sent to your home in the post every 2 years.
If you are aged 75 or over, you can ask for a home test kit every two years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.
If you do not have a permanent home address, you can ask your GP surgery for your test kit to be sent to the GP surgery or to another address.
You will get your results in around two weeks, most people are fine but a small number may need further tests.
Information
If you think you are eligible for bowel cancer screening but you have not been sent a kit, call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.
If you live in Merseyside and have been sent a kit in the last two years but did not complete it, you can call for a kit on 0151 706 3823 or email: BowelScreeningCallForAKit@liverpoolft.nhs.uk. You can also request one on this online form: Request a bowel cancer screening kit :: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group.
It is your choice if you want to have bowel cancer screening. Screening does not stop you getting bowel cancer, but it is the best way to find cancer at an early stage, when it is easier to treat.
If you have any symptoms, such as bleeding from your bottom or a change in your bowel habits, do not wait for your screening, contact your GP practice to get checked as soon as possible.
For more information on bowel cancer screening, go to Bowel cancer screening - NHS or Bowel cancer screening | Cancer Research UK
For more information on bowel cancer and signs and symptoms of it, go to Bowel cancer - NHS
'Just a tiny bit of poo' campaign
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance has launched the 'Just a tiny bit of poo' campaign, encouraging people to carry out their bowel screening test when it is delivered to them.
We are running this campaign during October and November 2025 across Cheshire and Merseyside and we are encouraging community groups and grassroots organisations to join in to spread our message.
We have produced a toolkit for community organisations which can help them to support the campaign with information, ideas and links to campaign materials, including social media wording and images and downloadable posters and leaflets.
Click here to see and download the toolkit.
If you have problems downloading the campaign materials in the toolkit, here are a number of assets which you can access for the 'Just A Tiny Bit Of Poo' campaign: