All 50-74 year olds in England will now get a home testing kit for bowel cancer every two years.
NHS England is offering the faecal-immunochemical test (FIT) to all 54-74 year olds from 2021 and anyone older can apply over the phone.
But after trials of local screening programs for people aged 50, the age is now being lowered, bringing it in line with Scotland and Wales.
And more than 850,000 extra people in England will now be able to return a stool sample for a blood test.
The youngest patient from Northamptonshire to be diagnosed through the screening programme, Steven Ball, 54, tested positive last May.
A colonoscopy at her local hospital revealed a small lesion, which turned out to be early-stage cancer.
Keyhole surgery removed it in July, and Mr Ball is unlikely to need further treatment.
“My cancer was so small that it didn’t show up on a CT scan and it was caught at a very early stage and removed, which is the best thing that can happen. told BBC News.
“It shows how important it is when your stool test comes in the post and getting yourself checked out gives you peace of mind.”
The NHS says about one in 50 of those who return samples need further testing, which may include a scan.
But less than 60% of 54-57 year olds return their Fit Kits, compared to more than 70% of 60-74 year olds.
Cancer Research UK says more than 120 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer – the fourth most common type – every day in the UK, more than 11% of all new cancer cases.
NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, Professor Peter Johnson, urged people not to “feel embarrassed about poo”, and encouraged all eligible people to use a “quick and simple” fit kit. .
“What we do know is that when it’s caught early, the chances of survival are very good,” he added.
Bowel Cancer UK Research Director Dr Lisa Wild said: “Screening is one of the best ways to find bowel cancer at an early stage – when it is treatable and curable.
“In fact, more than nine out of 10 people survive bowel cancer when it’s diagnosed at an early stage.”