The UK colorectal cancer screening pilot: results of the second round of screening in England

Abstract

An evaluation of the second round of faecal occult blood (FOB) screening in the English site of the UK Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot (comprising the Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot based in Rugby, general practices in four Primary Care Trusts, and their associated hospitals) was carried out. A total of 127 746 men and women aged 50–69 and registered in participating general practices were invited to participate. In all, 15.9% were new invitees not included in the previous round. A total of 52.1% of invitees returned a screening kit. Uptake varied with gender, age, and level of deprivation; was lower than in the first round (51.9 vs 58.5% P<0.0001), but was high (81.1%) in those who had participated in the first round with a negative result. Test positivity was 1.77%, significantly higher than in the first round, and the detection rate of neoplasia similar (5.67 per 1000), resulting in a lower positive predictive value. The sensitivity of FOBt in the first round was estimated as 57.7–64.4%. There was a significant impact on workload, particularly on endoscopy services. The cancer detection rate (0.94 per 1000) was lower than in the first round. Effort will be required to minimise inequalities in uptake, and to ensure adequate capacity of endoscopy services.