My mother recently passed away from bowel cancer just after her 49th birthday. She was only diagnosed less than a year before her passing. This could have been avoided had she received the NHS bowel cancer testing kits that those over 50 receive every two years. We want the screening age to be lowered as we don't want anyone else to experience a tragedy like this.

Bowel cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the UK, yet a significant number of cases are diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are limited and less effective. The current NHS bowel cancer screening program starts at age 50, which misses early-stage detection in individuals between 45 and 50. By lowering the screening age to 45, we can catch more cases early, significantly increasing the chance of successful treatment and survival.

Recent studies have shown a rising incidence of bowel cancer in individuals under 50. According to Cancer Research UK, the rate of bowel cancer in people aged 29 to 49 has increased by 52% over the past decade, highlighting an urgent need for policy change. The American Cancer Society has already recommended that regular screenings begin at age 45, acknowledging the shift in disease patterns.

Lowering the screening age would not only save lives but also reduce the long-term treatment costs for the NHS by catching cancers early, before they become more serious and expensive to treat. This change is a preventative measure that can have immediate positive impacts on public health.

We urge the NHS and the UK Government to prioritise this issue and adjust the screening guidelines to reflect the growing need for early detection. By bringing the NHS in line with international standards, we can ensure that more lives are saved and less families experience the heart-breaking pain of losing a loved one to late-diagnosed bowel cancer.

Please, sign this petition to call for action, and help prevent future tragedies like the one my family has suffered from.