In a new film discussing the importance of bowel cancer screening, the TV presenters urge those eligible to return their lifesaving bowel cancer screening home tests.

Recent data showed almost one third (30%) of people do not return the potentially lifesaving tests.

The film shows Tommy and Alan answering questions – written on toilet roll – on how the NHS bowel cancer screening programme in England works.

Alan Titchmarsh said: “We know the earlier you detect cancer, the far greater your chances of survival. That’s why this campaign is so important – the NHS bowel cancer screening test can detect signs of cancer even before you notice anything wrong.

“It’s quick to complete and if you do it at soon as it arrives, you can send it off the same day, and job done! I really urge everyone to do it – you owe it to your family, and you owe it to yourself.”

The video is part of the NHS ‘Help Us Help You’ campaign, which tackles the fears surrounding a cancer diagnosis, and aims to get more men and women diagnosed at the earliest stage where bowel cancer survival is nine times higher.

It follows a new survey that found nearly nine in 10 (89%) of eligible 56-74-year-olds would be likely to take a bowel cancer screening test if it could help find signs of cancer at an earlier stage, but one in five say they wouldn’t complete one because they would be too embarrassed to look at their poo.

NHS chiefs want to dispel the stigma surrounding the test and increase uptake with a TV and radio campaign launched last month urging men and women who receive the test to “put it by the loo, don’t put it off.”

National director of Screening and Vaccinations, Steve Russell, said: “It is fantastic to have Alan and Tommy shine a spotlight on our NHS bowel cancer screening programme and to use their star power to get the country to put the test by the loo and to not put it off.”

The NHS bowel cancer screening programme involves using a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit, which detects small amounts of blood in poo – that would not be visible to people – before someone may notice anything is wrong.

A tiny sample of poo is collected using the plastic stick provided and is placed in a sample bottle before being sent back to the NHS, free of charge, for laboratory analysis.

More than half a million FIT kits are posted out each month to eligible people, who are automatically sent a kit every two years if they are registered with a GP practice and live in England.

NHS England is currently in the process of lowering the age of men and women that receive the test to include all over 50s by 2025, which the programme has already expanded to also include 56-year-olds and most 58-year-olds.

“Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK,” said Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay: “but we know that screening increases the chances of early diagnosis which can prevent deaths from this devastating disease. I urge everyone who receives a kit to use it.’’

Dame Cally Palmer, National Cancer director said: “The entire country fell in love with the passionate campaigning of Dame Deborah James last year and her tireless work to bring bowel cancer to the forefront of health conversation.

“Her legacy continues on through these famous faces who are just as passionate as she is and we are already seeing incredible responses to our cancer awareness campaigns with record treatments and referrals, so do not delay in returning your kit as your next poo could save your life.”

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, and the second biggest cancer killer.

Data shows 43,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year and 16,500 people die from it annually – around 45 people per day.

TV personality, Tommy Walsh said: “As a cancer survivor myself, I know how important diagnosing cancer early is. But I didn’t know that detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to nine times more likely to be successfully treated.

“So remember, if you are sent an NHS bowel cancer screening test, do it as soon as it arrives in the post! Put it by the loo, and don’t put it off.”

Someone else supporting the campaign is TV doctor Dr Sarah Jarvis who said: “It’s a big concern that almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening test in England last year did not go on to complete it. But it’s so vital that people don’t put off doing their bowel cancer screening tests if they receive them in the post, as your next poo could save your life.”

Bowel cancer symptoms can include:

• a persistent change in bowel habit such as pooing more often, with looser, runnier poo
• blood in the poo
• abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating

Cancer Research UK’s head of health and patient information, Dr Julie Sharp, said she hoped the campaign will show people just how easy the bowel cancer screening home test kit is to do. And chief executive at Bowel Cancer UK, Genevieve Edwards, said: “Screening is one of the best ways to detect the disease early, so it’s brilliant to see celebrities like Alan and Tommy getting on board helping to raise awareness and encouraging others to have open conversations about bowel cancer.” 

People concerned that they may have missed their invitation or have lost or thrown away their kit can call the free bowel cancer screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60. Information on bowel cancer and the screening programme can be found at nhs.uk/bowel-screening.