PEOPLE across the North are urged to give themselves the best chance of beating the nation’s second biggest cancer killer.

A simple test sent out in the post and carried out in private at home can detect the first signs of bowel cancer which is treatable or curable when diagnosed early.

Yet four out of ten people in the region who are sent the test for free fail to use it.

As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April, Bowel Cancer UK hopes to raise awareness of the condition and NHS screening programme and improve the low uptake in the region.

Charity chief executive Deborah Alsina said: “It’s quite simple, bowel cancer screening saves lives.

“It’s predicted that even using the current test, the screening programme will save over 2,000 lives each year by 2025.

“I would encourage everyone who’s over 60 to take the test, and for those who are younger to encourage their loved ones over 60 to complete it. It could save yours or your loved ones life.”

Figures released by the charity this week show less than 60 per cent of people in the North East and North Yorkshire sent the test actually complete it– with even lower uptakes on Wearside and Teesside.

The areas with the highest uptake are Richmondshire, Northumberland and North Durham but they still only have 64, 62 and 60 per cent respectively.

The NHS bowel cancer screening programme detects hidden blood in poo which can be an early sign of bowel cancer, even before someone notices symptoms and when it is easier to treat and gives patients a high chance of survival.

Those registered with a GP and aged 60 to 74 will be sent a test every two years.

Next year, the current test will be replaced in England by the even simpler and more accurate Faecal Immunochemical Test which has the potential to detect more cancers and pre-cancerous polyps and aims to increase screening participation.

During April, when nearly 3,500 people in the UK will be diagnosed and more than 1,300 will die of the disease, the charity’s health promotion team will visit work places and community groups to talk about screening.

Anyone interesting in hosting a talk can visit the website bowelcanceruk.org.uk/bookatalk or email volunteer@bowelcanceruk.org