Hello, it’s Claire here.

I’m one of the nurses at The Medical Group, and as April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to share my story to help raise awareness and encourage others to take screening seriously.

• Turning 50 and screening: Last year, I turned 50 and received my bowel cancer screening kit in the post. As a nurse, I know how important screening is, it’s designed to prevent or detect cancer early, often before symptoms appear.
• My test came back positive: I completed the kit, and the result was positive. Further investigations found bowel cancer, and I needed surgery. Cancer was also found in the lymph nodes, and I was diagnosed with Stage 3 bowel cancer, followed by six months of chemotherapy.
• I had NO symptoms! This is why screening is so important. Without it, the outcome could have been very different.
• My message to you: When your bowel screening kit arrives, please do it. It could save your life.