Live testing of the country's new colorectal cancer screening programme - BowelScreen - is to begin this week to ensure that it is easy for members of the public to understand.

According to the National Cancer Screening Programme (NCSS), development of BowelScreen is at an ‘advanced stage' and it is due to begin before the end of 2012.

Colorectal (bowel) cancer is Ireland's second most commonly diagnosed cancer. More than 2,000 cases are newly diagnosed every year and it is the second biggest cancer killer in the country.

The NCSS has just published its guidelines for quality assurance for the programme to ensure all standards are met.

According to NCSS acting director, Majella Byrne, population-based screening ‘is a complex and layered process'.

"Quality assurance is the foundation on which a successful population-based programme is built. From initial invitation, through screening stage to diagnosis, surgery and treatment, every individual involved in each step of the screening process must adhere to the highest standards set by the programme," she explained.

BowelScreen will offer free screening to men and women aged between 55 and 74 on a two-yearly cycle.

The programme will initally be introduced on a phased basis ‘to develop the capacity to cater for the full 55-74 population'. The first phase will cover those aged 60-69 before the programme is eventually expanded to include the rest.

The guidelines can be viewed here