A staggering nine million people across the UK are failing to attend potentially life-saving cancer screenings offered for free by the NHS, according to a concerning new analysis.
Who is Eligible for Free NHS Screenings?
The worrying figure was calculated by Cancer Research UK, which examined uptake data for the national screening programmes. The NHS automatically invites eligible age groups for three main types of cancer screening.
Everyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should be offered a cervical smear test every five years to check for abnormal cells. For bowel cancer, a home testing kit is sent every two years to those aged 50 to 74.
Women are also offered routine breast cancer screenings, known as mammograms, every three years from the age of 50 until they turn 71.
A New Tool to Boost Uptake
In response to the low participation rates, experts are urging the public to use a new online screening checker launched as part of the Stand Up To Cancer campaign. The tool is designed to clarify eligibility, which can sometimes be confusing.
'Screening can save lives, but many people are missing out,' said Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK. 'This new screening checker is designed to make it simple. By taking just a few minutes to check you could take an important step towards protecting your health.'
The checker has received backing from a host of celebrities, including Meera Syal, Jessie J, Rosie Jones, Hugh Bonneville, Kelly Holmes, and Krishnan Guru-Murthy. Television presenter Davina McCall, who recently had a cancerous lump removed from her breast, also supports the initiative.
On its launch, broadcaster Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: 'Taking a look at this new checker or sharing it with someone you really care about, could be a life saver.'
The Alarming Rise of Bowel Cancer in the Young
The push for greater screening awareness comes amid a perplexing global rise in bowel cancer cases among adults under 50. A major international study earlier this year found it was the only cancer type surging significantly in that age group.
There are around 44,000 new cases of bowel cancer diagnosed in the UK each year, and it claims approximately 17,400 lives annually. The disease tragically ended the life of campaigner Dame Deborah James at age 40 in 2022.
Nicknamed 'Bowel Babe', Dame Deborah raised over £11.3 million for cancer research and is widely credited with boosting public awareness of the disease's symptoms.
Dr Harrison Carter, director of screening at NHS England, urged the public: 'When your NHS screening invite arrives—whether it's for cervical or breast screening, or a bowel cancer testing kit through the post—please do make time to take it up.'
Screening is crucial because it can detect cancer early when treatment is more likely to succeed, and in some cases, can even prevent the disease from developing. Cancer Research UK estimates that over half (54%) of bowel cancer cases in the UK are preventable.
