HE died from bowel cancer in just a few short months - now his family want to help others by raising awareness of the killer disease.

Mike Brooks, 65, a retired civil servant, of Slessor Road, in Acomb, died in October this year after being diagnosed in June.

Now his family are urging for more public information about screening for the disease in the hope that others might be prevented from going through the same nightmare.

Mike's daughter, Sarah, of Bishophill, said: "Dad led a low-risk lifestyle. He didn't particularly drink, he didn't smoke, he exercised.

"We miss him very much, but we're trying to channel that as positively as possible.

"I think there's a limited awareness of bowel cancer. It's something I never realised affected so many people until this happened.

"There are screening tests you can buy from the chemists."

Mike's illness only came to light when he suddenly became jaundiced in June. Tests at York Hospital revealed cancerous ulcers. The disease had spread to his liver, and doctors said it was terminal.

It was shocking news for Mike and his family, as he had never felt any signs of the cancer that had invaded his body.

Although bowel cancer is a huge killer, research has shown that early screening in men and women aged between 50 and 69 could prevent more than 2,000 deaths a year.

The Government is introducing a national bowel screening programme, but it is being rolled out nationally over the next three years and is not available nationwide yet.

In March, Cancer Research UK accused the Government of dragging its heels over the programme, after it emerged there had been delays.

Mike's widow, Pat, said: "Had the screening programme been available he would have had it at 60."

Sarah added: "There's no information to say this is a dangerous thing. When this screening programme comes out, there will be a lot of awareness of bowel cancer. But before 2009, I think the information is limited and people don't realise it's the second most common cancer."

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said it was estimated between 120,000 and 150,000 men and women could be invited for screening this year as part of its programme.

"We are working with professional and voluntary groups to develop - with a view to piloting - awareness programmes, testing whether patients with symptoms can be encouraged to present earlier to primary care," she said.

Pat and Sarah thanked nursing staff on Ward 28 of York Hospital for their care of Mike during his final days.

Take advice to reduce your risk

Bowel cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.

  • Nearly 50 people die every day from the disease
  • In 2004, there were 34,300 new cases in Britain
  • If detected early, about nine out of ten cases can be successfully treated
  • More than nine out of ten cases are in people over 50 You can reduce your risk by:
  • Being more active
  • Boosting the fibre in your diet, by choosing wholegrain cereals, bread, rice and pasta
  • Eating at least five fruit and vegetables a day
  • Eating more fish and less red meat See www.beatingbowelcancer.org for more information.