Bowel screening aims to find cancer early or to find changes in your bowel that could lead to cancer. This is when treatment is more likely to be effective. Screening can also find polyps. These are abnormal clumps of cells in the bowel. Polyps are not cancers, but may develop into cancers over time. Polyps can be easily removed, which reduces the risk of bowel cancer developing.

Having bowel cancer screening reduces your risk of dying from bowel cancer by at least 25%.

Bowel screening involves providing a stool sample with the sample kit you are provided when it comes in the post.

Bowel screening is automatically offered to people aged between 50 to 74 years old across Scotland every 2 years 

If you are over 75 you can opt in to the screening programme by calling the number below: 

Tel :0800 0121 833

By registering at Bangholm Medical Centre, you will automatically be enrolled into the system if you fit within the age range specified above. You should receive a test kit in the post with instructions on how to use the kit, and where to send the sample for analysis. 

For any issues such as needing a replacement kit or having not received a kit, please contact the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre:

• by phone - 0800 0121 833 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm)
• by textphone 18001 0800 0121 833 (Open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm)
• by email - TAY.scottishbowelscreening@nhs.scot