Screening for cancer has made so much difference in the fight against the decease, and has led to so many becoming cancer survivors. Yet in spite of this and all the hype around cancer screening saving lives, there are five million non responders.

For some, it is actually going for screening which puts them off. Others would rather live in ignorance or it’s a cultural thing, and for some it is the waiting for the results that puts them off.

As someone who missed a couple of opportunities to take a bowel cancer screening test, I wonder now how different my life might be if I had done the screening. As things stand it’s 12 months since I was told that I had bowel cancer. I was lucky in that I had a great surgeon who had a great team around him, and was looked after so well by the nurses at The Manor Hospital Walsall. I can’t speak highly enough of them. They, along with the strong support I have received from my wonderful family, have given me a fighting chance of leading something like a normal life, hopefully for a good many more years.

Between them they have seen me through a couple of major operations, the first removed the tumour along with part of my colon. That was back in early October last year. The second, on the 4th July this year, was to remove the rest of my colon following the discovery of a positive diagnosis of cancer contained within a polyp removed during a check up earlier in the year. All this may never have happened if I had just taken the trouble to do the screening.

I started this piece off talking about the positives of cancer screening. Don’t leave it to chance. Life is too short as it is. So, if you are one of those eligible for screening, for your sake and your families sake, when you are asked, do it. If you are one of the 30% of non responders for Bowel Cancer screening. Do it. If you are one of the 50% who don’t go for their first Breast Cancer screening. Do it. If you are one of the 20% who don’t go for Cervical Cancer screening. Do it.

If you want to know more about Cancer screening and you live in the Willenhall area, then why not pop along to the “Raising Awareness of Cancer” event at The Hive Hub, New Invention Square, Lichfield Road, Willenhall between 9.30am and 12.30pm. It’s your chance to speak with health professionals about any concerns you may have. And you can have a health check whilst your at it.

Look forward to seeing you there.