NEARLY four in ten people in the York area are ignoring vital screening tests for bowel cancer.

While bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, it is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early, Bowel Cancer UK has said.

However, in the Vale of York area only 62 per cent of the people sent a screening test for free in the post actually complete it, something the charity has warned is putting lives at risk.

Deborah Alsina MBE, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “It’s quite simple, bowel cancer screening saves lives. It’s predicted that even using the current test, the screening programme will save over 2,000 lives each year by 2025.

"I would encourage everyone who’s over 60 to take the test, and for those who are younger to encourage their loved ones over 60 to complete it. It could save yours or your loved ones life.”

The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is for people aged 60 to 74 and is sent out to everyone in this age bracket every two years.

It can detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms, when it is easier to treat and has a greater chance of survival.

The take up rate in Scarborough And Ryedale is 60.13 per cent and similar in the East Riding Of Yorkshire at 62.73 per cent.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, only 57 per cent of people complete the test.

Bowel Cancer UK, the UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity, is encouraging people living in the region to take part in the screening programme as part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April.

In April alone across the UK, nearly 3,500 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer and over 1,300 people will die of the disease.

Bowel Cancer UK’s health promotion team is looking for work places and community groups in the local area to host a talk about screening in April. The 30 minute talk is delivered by a trained health promotion volunteer, who often has a personal experience of bowel cancer.

The programme, which was awarded a Health and Wellbeing Award by the Royal Society of Public Health, stresses the importance of those who are of screening age to take the bowel cancer screening test, raises awareness of the disease as well as good bowel health, and highlights the symptoms and risks.

If you’re interested in hosting a talk at your work place, community group and any other place that has an existing group or charity, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk/bookatalk or email volunteer@bowelcanceruk.org

To find out more about bowel cancer and screening, visit: bowelcanceruk.org.uk