OVER a third of people in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven are failing to take up the chance of free bowel cancer screening.

Test kits are sent out every two years to people aged 60-74, registered with a GP.

Step-by-step instructions enable the person to carry out a simple procedure which will highlight any potential abnormality.

But according to latest figures from Bowel Cancer UK, more than 36 per cent of eligible people in the Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area are not completing the test – although the take-up rate, of 63.2 per cent, is the highest in the Bradford district and above the national average of 57.9 per cent.

To coincide with Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the research charity is urging people to take part in the screening programme.

It says the initiative can detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms, making the disease easier to treat and offering a greater chance of survival.

Deborah Alsina, for the charity, said: "Put simply, bowel cancer screening saves lives.

"It's predicted that 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."

This month alone across the UK, nearly 3,500 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 1,300 people will die of the disease.

The average incidence of bowel cancer per 100,000 people in Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven is 71.9.

Dr Ian Fenwick, clinical lead for cancer at the Bradford CCGs, said: "Our bowels may not be on the top of our list of things to talk about, but it’s important that we do.

"Screening plays an important part in the fight against bowel cancer, because the earlier the cancer is diagnosed the greater the chance it can be cured completely.

“There are lots of things you can do to help reduce your risk of bowel cancer, like trying to maintain a diet high in fibre, for example by eating wholegrains such as brown rice and granary bread, and avoiding too many processed meats, such as ham, bacon and sausages.”

Symptoms of bowel cancer may include abdominal pain, blood in your stools and/or a change in your normal bowel habit lasting three weeks or more.

For more information, visit bradford.gov.uk/health/improve-your-health/advice-about-cancer-screening.