Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance urges people who receive a FIT in the post to heed the words of 68-year-old Hull resident Andy Thompson and  #flushawaybowelcancer.

“To anyone who receives a FIT in the post and doesn’t want to do it, I would tell them about my experience compared with a relative of mine. My result came back abnormal, so I had to have further investigations. Fortunately, all they found were polyps, which can become cancerous, so I had them all removed.

“My relative wasn’t as fortunate. About five years ago he received a FIT in the post, but he put it in a drawer and forgot all about it. A few months later, he was in a lot of pain, and showing symptoms of bowel cancer. Six to eight months after not doing the FIT, he was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.

“Thankfully, he has survived, but he had to have his bowel and bladder removed. His health has been impacted though. I have wondered what stage the cancer would have been caught at if he had done the test, because stage two bowel cancer is more treatable.

“We’re really lucky to get the FIT screening kit for free in the post. For a few minutes of unpleasantness, it can help you be treated for bowel cancer, or, in my case, help stop you getting it in the first place. Don’t flush away that chance, flush away bowel cancer instead!”

Simon Maddocks, 74 from East Yorkshire, found out he had bowel cancer in March 2020. He hadn’t been suffering symptoms other than extreme tiredness. But after a diagnosis of severe anaemia the month previous, he didn’t think it would be bowel cancer.

“My tiredness levels were taking over my life and leaving me absolutely shattered. Even going up and down the stairs made me feel exhausted. Thinking I was anaemic was one thing, but learning my tiredness was a part of Stage two bowel cancer came as a huge shock.

“Fortunately, the team at Castle Hill Hospital were marvellous. They worked very quickly, and by April I had undergone a blood transfusion, a colonoscopy, a CT scan and successful surgery, to remove the cancer from my body.

“The staff at Castle Hill were all kind, considerate, knowledgeable and professional. They were keen to answer all my questions, and put me at ease throughout my treatment. Thanks to them, I’m now free of cancer.”

Simon is free of cancer now. Before his diagnosis, he had once ignored the FIT screening kit he had received in the post.

“I made sure I did the one I received after being cleared of cancer. It was so easy to do, and took under 10 minutes to complete.

“I can understand why people might not want to complete a FIT – as I’ve said, I’m guilty of ignoring it in the past. But as a cancer survivor, trust me, it’s worth it. It only takes a few minutes of your time, and it’s free.

“You might not want to think about cancer. Nobody does. But if you are one of the unlucky ones, like me, wouldn’t you rather know sooner than later? The earlier you have bowel cancer detected, the greater the chance you can be treated successfully and continue to live your life.

“It’s not just for your benefit. Think about your family. Don’t you want them to be in their lives for as long as possible?

“Just do it! There is no downside. You either get the all-clear, or you get the benefit of an early diagnosis, and prompt treatment, that increases the likelihood of a good outcome.”