When will I receive the invitation?
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ColorectalScreen Norway invites men and women to take part in screening from the age of 55. Invitations are sent out up to five times, until the age of 65.
Who is offered colorectal screening?
All men and women are invited to bowel screening the year they turn 55. Invitations are sent out continuously throughout the year. ColorectalScreen Norway started in 2022, with those who were 55 that year, born in 1967. The number of people invited increases gradually each year, and by 2030, everyone aged 55 to 65 will be included.
The invitation is sent digitally through Helsenorge, and the test kit is delivered by post. You cannot sign up yourself, the invitation and test kit are sent automatically when it’s your turn.
You can take part in the screening programme up to and including the year you turn 65. Whether you participate or not, you will receive an invitation every two years, up to five times. For example, if you received your first invitation in 2023, you will receive the next ones in 2025, 2027, and so on. You will receive a new test kit every two years, even if you choose not to take part one time.
If the test shows blood in your stool, you will be referred for a colonoscopy at the hospital. After you have completed the colonoscopy, you will no longer receive invitations to the screening programme.
If you were born in 1966 or earlier, you will not be invited to the programme. If you have symptoms that persist over time, we recommend that you contact your GP.
Why is screening offered at age 55?
When determining who should be offered screening, the expected benefits must be weighed against possible disadvantages and risks. The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, and more than half of those diagnosed are over 70 years old. Because bowel cancer usually develops slowly, it is possible to detect cancer or precancerous changes before symptoms appear.
In 2017, the Norwegian Parliament decided that bowel cancer screening should be offered to women and men at the age of 55. This decision was based on a thorough evaluation by a broadly composed expert group led by the Norwegian Directorate of Health.
The screening programme is organised in a way that allows for close monitoring and the integration of new knowledge. It is important that the programme can be adjusted if new evidence becomes available.