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flag Wales' bowel cancer screening shift to age 50 has doubled early detections, boosting survival and reducing system strain.

flag Since lowering the bowel cancer screening age from 60 to 50 in 2021, Wales has more than doubled the number of early cancers detected through screening, rising from 211 cases in 2020–21 to 457 in 2023–24. flag The expanded program invites all eligible individuals aged 50 to 74 registered with a GP to take a free, home-based faecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years, which can find cancer before symptoms appear and detect precancerous polyps. flag Annual screening invitations have also more than doubled, from 223,000 to over 500,000. flag Health officials stress that early detection improves survival rates to 90%, and urge participation to save lives and reduce strain on the health system. flag The government continues to invest in NHS capacity for diagnosis and treatment. flag Bowel cancer remains one of the most common cancers in Wales, with over 2,000 new cases each year.

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