Dad-of-two Simon Rigg, 58, is urging people to complete their NHS bowel cancer screening test when invited, as the NHS marks 20 years since the bowel screening programme began.

Simon, who lives in South Cumbria, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023, and this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, he is encouraging others to look out for symptoms and contact their GP if they are worried.

Simon experienced symptoms including bleeding, and his doctor encouraged him to complete the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), which unfortunately came back positive.

Following a colonoscopy, which discovered a tumour in the bowel, Simon went through five weeks of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy before an operation to remove the tumour. He had an ileostomy (temporary stoma) put in while the site healed and had a further 15 weeks of chemotherapy after some cells were found in the lymph nodes.

Simon said: “It was really arduous – particularly the chemotherapy, but they were able to reverse the ileostomy, and I now have regular surveillance to ensure there is no sign of the disease returning and am back at work and enjoying life to the full.”

He continued: “The biggest thing I would urge people is, if you get sent a test, please do it and send it back. That could pick up something you were previously unaware of. And if you have any symptoms at all, contact your GP.”

Since bowel screening started two decades ago, the NHS in England has caught 70,000 cancers with almost 85 million people in total screened.

In the North West, nearly three quarters (71.5%) of people aged 60 to 74 are up to date with bowel screening.

The NHS has transformed bowel screening since it was introduced in 2006 for people in their sixties, with the life-saving test now available to people aged 50-74.

Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the North West, said: “The NHS bowel screening programme has significantly improved over the past 20 years and is saving more lives than ever before.

“This simple test, done in the comfort of your own home, can detect bowel cancer early, before you may notice any signs and symptoms, making it easier to treat.

“I’d encourage anyone eligible to complete the testing kit when it arrives in the post. Put it by the loo, don’t put it off.”

The NHS automatically invites people once they become eligible for screening. It is offered to everyone aged 50 to 74 every two years.

Read more about bowel cancer and the NHS screening programme: Bowel cancer screening – NHS