The current method for screening for bowel cancer is the so called faecal occult blood (FOB) test. Basically, everyone between 60 and 69 will be offered the test. They will be asked to place a small smear of faeces on a card, which is sent to the lab for testing to determine whether it contains blood. If it does, they will be called in for further investigations.
The trouble is, the test isn't very good. It misses a good proportion of people who have bowel cancer and may also alarm people who don't by suggesting they may have it when they don't.
But until now, it's the best test available for mass screening.
Scientists are now developing a new test which looks for DNA indicative of cancer in faeces. This could significantly improve the accuracy of screening if it is developed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12637096
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