Routine bowel cancer testing is not needed for all patients

Routine testing for bowel cancer should not be recommended for everyone aged 50-79 years because, for those at very low risk, the benefit is small and uncertain and there are potential harms, say a panel of international experts in the BMJ. But they say screening should be recommended for men and women with a risk of 3% or more in the next 15 years, as this is the point at which the balance of benefits and harms tilts in favour of screening. Their advice is based on the latest evidence and is part of The BMJ’s ‘Rapid Recommendations’ initiative –