NEARLY half of people living in Cheshire and Merseyside ignore the bowel cancer screening test – and medics are warning people’s lives are at risk

On average only 59% of people living in Cheshire and Merseyside are taking advantage of a free bowel cancer screening test that has the potential to save lives.

Bowel Cancer UK, the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity, is encouraging people living in the region to take part in the screening programme.

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme can detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms when it is easier to treat and there is a greater chance of survival.

Uptake rates for bowel cancer screening are low with huge variations across Cheshire and Merseyside.

The bottom five areas that need to see the most improvement are: Knowsley (52%), Liverpool (53%), South Sefton (55%), Halton (56%), and Wirral (58%).

The top five areas with the highest uptake are: Eastern Cheshire (64%), West Cheshire (63%), Southport and Formby (62%), South Cheshire (62%) and Warrington (60%).

If you’re registered with a GP and aged 60-74, you will receive a test in the post every two years. You carry out the simple test at home in private and it comes with step by step instructions. The test looks for hidden blood in your poo, which could be an early sign of bowel cancer.

Almost 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the UK and more than 16,000 people die from the disease. It’s the nation’s second biggest cancer killer.

However it shouldn’t be because it is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.

The charity is raising awareness of the importance of screening as part of their announcement of their new brand following the merger of Beating Bowel Cancer and Bowel Cancer UK in January 2018.

Deborah Alsina, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “It’s quite simple, bowel cancer screening saves lives.”