Older residents urged to take bowel screening by Clydebank and Milngavie MSP

OLDER members of the public are being urged to take bowel screening tests this month by Clydebank's MSP. 

Gil Paterson is backing the Scottish Government's drive to tackle bowel cancer across the country. 

All adults aged 50-74 are invited to take part in bowel screening every two years in Scotland.  

The test remains the best way of finding bowel cancer early, when survival is 14 times more likely. The number of participants between November 2013 and October 2015 was over one million. 

Mr Paterson said: "The bowel screening test is the best way to catch bowel cancer early. I urge all constituents who have been sent a test to do it as soon as they receive it – with it being 14 times more likely to survive bowel cancer when it is caught early. 

“Over a million people completed the test between November 2013 and October 2015, which is an uptake of 57.5 per cent. Whilst this is positive, the Scottish Government will always work to try and secure greater and earlier uptake, to ensure we find even more cancers as early as possible. 

“Returning the test early really could be a lifesaver.” 

For more information or to find out how to request a replacement test visit http://www.getcheckedearly.org ​