A YORK MP is urging more people to take part in potentially life-saving bowel cancer screening.

Julian Sturdy, MP for York Outer, is supporting Bowel Cancer UK’s campaign to encourage people to take a free screening test.

Bowel cancer screening can save lives but at the moment only a third of those who receive a test complete it in some areas of the UK. Thousands of people are missing out on the chance to detect bowel cancer early when it is easier to treat, Mr Sturdy said.

He said: “Improving the uptake of bowel cancer screening is very important as it is a real life saver, and I would urge everyone who is sent a bowel screening test to use it. Taking part in bowel cancer screening is the best way to get diagnosed early, which means a higher chance of successful treatment.”

More than 44 people die from bowel cancer every day in the UK, the nation’s second biggest cancer killer.

If you are registered with a GP and aged 60 to 74-years-old, you will receive a screening test in the post every two years.