Thousands in Rotherham missing out on potentially life-saving service

Beating Bowel Cancer is campaigning for the age at which screening is offered to be cut from 60 to 50.

Almost 7,000 cancer patients, relatives and supporters from around the UK have sent letters to their MPs urging them to support the campaign.

This would bring England, Wales and Northern Ireland in line with residents in Scotland, they point out.

Judith Brodie, acting chief executive, said: “Around 41,000 people a year are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK — more than one in ten are in their 50s. 

“If diagnosed at this early stage, 95 per cent can be successfully treated but this drops to just seven per cent if diagnosed at a late stage.

“You’re far more likely to be diagnosed at an early stage through screening than via your GP or A&E, so it’s shocking that so many people are being denied the chance of an early diagnosis via screening.”

The charity, bowel cancer patients and others who are supporting the campaign hope to persuade MPs to put pressure on the health secretary Jeremy Hunt to consider equalising the bowel cancer screening age throughout the UK.

For more information or to sign up to Beating Bowel Cancer’s campaign, visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org.