CRUK Resources

Cancer-Research-UK

There is a wealth of information about Faecal Immunochemical Testing for Health Professionals in Primary Care on the Bowel Screening Evidence and Resources page from Cancer Research UK. You can find links to these useful resources below.

Bowel Cancer Screening

The bowel screening programme is intended for people without any signs or symptoms suggestive of bowel cancer.

In England and Northern Ireland, people are invited to participate in bowel cancer screening from age 60 to 74, and in Scotland it is from age 50 to 74. As of October 2022, Wales have reduced their screening age to 55.

Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland all use the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) as the screening test.

Visit Cancer Research UK’s website to find out more about FIT for Screening

Choose your nation from the tabs below, to ensure you are reading the most relevant and up-to-date information for your area:

Scotland

Scotland_CRUK
GP Good Practice Guide

A publication from Cancer Research UK about engaging primary care in bowel screening. With sections including the pathway, the role of GP practices, the support available, the practical tips involving training, technical information on the test and practice data, and safety netting, this publication is a valuable read for primary care looking to participate in a FIT testing scheme.

 

Cancer Research UK (2023) Primary Care Good Practice Guide: Bowel Cancer Screening
Tips For Collecting Your Poo

A pictographic guide produced by CRUK which outlines how a patient should obtain a stool sample for the purpose of a FIT test in Scotland.

 

Cancer Research UK (January 2023)
Key Things to Know About FIT – Screening vs. Symptomatic

The Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a type of faecal occult blood test used to detect traces of human blood in stool samples. FIT is used:
• As the primary test in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme (SBSP), aimed at individuals without symptoms (screening).
• In pilot projects by many of the Health Boards to guide the management of individuals who present with symptoms (symptomatic) – see local guidance

 

 View the document here
How to do the bowel cancer screening test in Scotland - Animated Video

FIT sees pre-pandemic bowel screening uptake increase in Scotland

“New statistics published in Scotland have shown that before the COVID-19 pandemic, uptake of bowel screening had increased.

This is good news and largely due to the introduction of the faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which is easier to complete.

These statistics(link is external), published by Public Health Scotland, show that 63% of those invited to take a bowel screening test between May 2018 to March 2020 completed it successfully.”

Read the full article from Cancer Research UK

Wales

Wales_BCUK
GP Good Practice Guide

A publication from Cancer Research UK about engaging primary care in bowel screening. With sections including the pathway, the role of GP practices, the support available, the practical tips involving training, technical information on the test and practice data, and safety netting, this publication is a valuable read for primary care looking to participate in a FIT testing scheme.

 

Cancer Research UK (2023) Primary Care Good Practice Guide: Bowel Cancer Screening
Tips For Collecting Your Poo

A pictographic guide produced by CRUK which outlines how a patient should obtain a stool sample for the purpose of a FIT test in Wales.

 

Cancer Research UK (January 2023)
Key Things to Know About FIT – Screening vs. Symptomatic

The Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a type of faecal occult blood test used to detect traces of human blood in stool samples. FIT is used:
• As the primary test in the NHS Bowel Screening Wales (BSW) programme, aimed at individuals without symptoms (screening)
• As a test to guide the management of individuals who present with symptoms (symptomatic)

 

View the document here
How to do the bowel cancer screening test in Wales - Animated Video

Cancer Insight Newsletter

FIT Bowel Screening in Wales (GPs)

On 28 January 2019 Faecal Immunochemical testing (FIT) will start to replace guaiac Faecal Occult Blood testing (gFOBt) in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in Wales. Roll out will be phased with 1 in 28 people receiving the new kit from the end of January. Full roll out is expected in June 2019.

This newsletter produced by Cancer Research UK (CRUK), is a valuable resource for GPs to help guide them through the changes and how to advise those who may have questions about the changes.

Read the newsletter from Cancer Research UK here

Cancer-Insight-Wales

England

England_CRUK
GP Good Practice Guide

A publication from Cancer Research UK about engaging primary care in bowel screening. With sections including the pathway, the role of GP practices, the support available, the practical tips involving training, technical information on the test and practice data, and safety netting, this publication is a valuable read for primary care looking to participate in a FIT testing scheme.

 

Cancer Research UK (2023) Primary Care Good Practice Guide: Bowel Cancer Screening
Tips For Collecting Your Poo

A pictographic guide produced by CRUK which outlines how a patient should obtain a stool sample for the purpose of a FIT test in England.

 

Cancer Research UK (January 2023)
Key Things to Know About FIT – Screening vs. Symptomatic

There are significant differences between each use of FIT which are important for health professionals to be aware of.

This includes the threshold for all abnormal results; e.g, a patient might test normal following screening, yet receive an abnormal result, requiring further action, when tested symptomatically.

 

Download the document here

How to do the bowel cancer screening test in England - Animated Video

Northern Ireland

GP Good Practice Guide

A publication from Cancer Research UK about engaging primary care in bowel screening. With sections including the pathway, the role of GP practices, the support available, the practical tips involving training, technical information on the test and practice data, and safety netting, this publication is a valuable read for primary care looking to participate in a FIT testing scheme.

 

Cancer Research UK (2023) Primary Care Good Practice Guide: Bowel Cancer Screening
Key Things to Know About FIT – Screening vs. Symptomatic

There are significant differences between each use of FIT which are important for health professionals to be aware of.

This includes the threshold for all abnormal results; e.g, a patient might test normal following screening, yet receive an abnormal result, requiring further action, when tested symptomatically.

 

Download the document here

How to do the bowel cancer screening test in Northern Ireland - Animated Video

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