A polyp can take as many as 10 to 15 years to develop into cancer. With screening, doctors can find and remove polyps before they have the chance to turn into cancer.

At present screening in the UK for bowel cancer is over the age of 50 years, most cases of bowel cancer is caught at late stages in younger people.

Berenice was diagnosed at age 48 years and has stage 3 Bowel Cancer, and feels that the screening age should be reduced to 40 years old or even younger! This would give better outcomes for younger people’s health. There are many younger people diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in the UK. Berenice feels this is not just an older persons cancer and with the earlier detection of polyps growing, screening at an earlier age can save lives &  better outcomes for younger people and (if caught early is curable.)

The aim of bowel screening is both to prevent and to diagnose early. Berenice would like people to sign her petition to make further changes to the age of screening and feels that although there is already a lack of funding in this area, in the long run people would benefit in an earlier diagnosis, saving lives and saving resources and costs to the NHS. 

Please sign Berenice’s petition to help raise awareness and help detect bowel cancer in younger people, giving them more of a chance of survival if caught early.