BowelScreen, the HSE’s national bowel cancer screening programme, has begun lowering its age range to include those aged from 59 to take the free at-home test.

When the HSE's expansion of the programme is is complete, everyone aged 55-74 will be invited for screening. Previously it was only available to those aged between 60-69.

The expansion is outlined in the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026.

Around 2,600 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Ireland every year. Bowel cancer is the second most common of all cancers in men and the third most common of all cancers in women in Ireland.

Symptoms can include:

• A persistent change in the patient's bowel habit
• Blood in the patient's stool
• Stomach pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating. This can sometimes result in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss.