A WOMAN diagnosed with bowel cancer is encouraging others to come forward for a screening.

The number of people getting checked for bowel cancer across the North West is at a record-high.

NHS figures show that campaigners and the efforts to raise awareness by the late Dame Deborah James, who passed away after a six-year battle with bowel cancer in June, had a strong impact as referrals in June across the region had increased by eight per cent from the previous month.

More than 7,600 people got checked in June with the NHS seeing thousands more visiting the website to check for bowel cancer symptoms.

Karen Cowley, from Newton-le-Willows, was diagnosed with bowel cancer the same year as Dame Deborah.

The 65-year-old is now encouraging others to come forward and get checked if they have noticed unusual changes.

She said: "After noticing a consistent change to my bowel habit, including periods of not being able to go to the toilet, and breathlessness, I contacted my GP to find out what was going on.

"At first I asked the doctor to check for aneamia due to the breathlessness, but he sent me for a bowel screening as well."

Karen was later diagnosed with the cancer in February 2017 and underwent surgery to remove a part of her colon.

She also had six months of chemotherapy due to a lymphatic tumour too dangerous to have surgically removed.

Karen, an occupational health advisor, added: "It was an extremely scary time, but I have ‘a glass half full’ outlook on life and knew that I needed to fight and continue living my life which helped me continue to work, exercise, and socialise with friends and family.

"I’m very happy to hear that the age has been lowered for the life-saving home screening kits and I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to do the test; it’s nothing to worry or be embarrassed about and it could save your life.

"If you notice changes to your body, not only your bowel movement but how you generally feel, please speak to your GP."

After being diagnosed with England’s fourth most common cancer, with around 37,000 new cases in the country each year, Karen is now taking part in the ANICCA trial at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, which looks into how the nivolumab drug works on bowel cancer.

The symptoms of bowel cancer include a change in bowel movements, traces of blood in your poo, and fatigue.

For further information on bowel cancer and the launch of NHS home-screening kit, visit the NHS website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/.