A ‘match and wholesome’ father says taking a bowel most cancers screening take a look at that dropped on his doorstep was like a “profitable lottery ticket” after it saved his life.
Steve Hollington, 58, was identified with stage three most cancers final yr regardless of having no signs.
The cruise ship singer had accomplished a bowel screening generally known as the faecal immunochemical take a look at, which might be finished at dwelling after which despatched off.
He’s now encouraging others to be take the take a look at, which detects small quantities of blood in poo that will not be seen.
Father-of-two Steve, of Warrington, Cheshire, stated: “It’s a no brainer for me.
“I had no signs, I might have carried on not understanding had I’ve not taken the take a look at, and leaving it so lengthy would have virtually definitely been too late to obtain the remedy I’ve.
“Taking the bowel screening package has saved my life, and doubtlessly given me 20 extra years to dwell it.”
Shortly after returning the finished package, the NHS contacted Steve to say additional investigation was required.
After a colonoscopy, two tumours had been present in his bowel, which Steve says ‘utterly took me abruptly as I didn’t have a single symptom’.
Steve underwent surgical procedure on his bowel in December, simply weeks after his prognosis, and was fitted with a stoma post-surgery to permit his bowel to heal.
He had 18 lymph nodes eliminated and is midway by way of a three-month course of chemotherapy.
Steve added: “There have been some actually worrying and emotional occasions, however I’ve tried to stay constructive.
(NHS England / SWNS)
“I really feel like I’m over the worst components of it, the surgical procedure has eliminated the tumours, the chemotherapy will hopefully mop up any of the cancerous cells and after the course has completed, hopefully I can have a stoma reversal.”
Everybody aged 60 to 74 years who’s registered with a GP and lives in England is mechanically despatched an NHS bowel most cancers screening package each 2 years.
However the programme can also be being expanded by the NHS to incorporate folks beneath 60.
Round 70 per cent of individuals return their accomplished take a look at kits, which consultants worry means many could miss a prognosis.
Dr Michael Gregory, medical director for NHS England North West, urged folks to finish the take a look at and return it as quickly as they obtain it.
He stated: “Catching bowel most cancers earlier than it spreads can cut back the danger of dying and make remedy a lot extra manageable.
“The FIT package is a crucial a part of our screening programme, so I’d urge anybody who has acquired a package however has but to return it to not put it off.”
Steve, who performs as an Elton John tribute act, has reworked the star’s traditional Your Tune to assist elevate consciousness of bowel most cancers screening.
