Bowel screening Programs

In the UK, the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme invites individuals aged 60 to 74 to participate in screening every two years. The primary method used is the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), which is designed to detect traces of blood in stool samples. If the FIT result is positive, a colonoscopy is offered for further investigation.

In the USA, screening recommendations can vary by state and provider, but generally, screening is advised to start at age 50 for average-risk individuals. The screening methods include FIT, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy, among others. The frequency of screening depends on the method used; for instance, an annual FIT is common, while colonoscopies are often recommended every ten years. Follow-up procedures in the USA are determined by the initial screening results and may include further diagnostic testing or surveillance.