SOME of us refuse to save our own lives when it comes to screening for life-threatening cancers.

Only 58 per cent of people are taking advantage of the free test to prevent bowel cancer, even though the NHS screening programme can detect bowel cancer at an early stage and save lives.

More than 16,000 people in the UK die from bowel cancer a year. Early detection help nine out of 10 survive whereas the odds go down to one out of 10 if it’s discovered late.

The screening programme is currently offered to all men and women aged between 60 and 74 but all adults are now to be offered it from the age of 50 in a bid to save lives.

A screening kit arrives at your home. You take samples of your poo on three different days and send them off to be tested. It’s not something you’d do for fun but it’s no big deal.

The screening programme began in 2006 and has been conspicuously successful in early detection. The only possible argument for ignoring the testing kit is that, because you actually have to do something you wouldn’t normally do, you simply can’t be bothered. Sadly, this decision costs lives.

A similar problem affects the national breast screening programme which is automatically offered once every three yeas to women aged 50 to 70.

Mammography is, however, more contentious than bowel cancer screening as some doctors don’t believe it’s necessary and is “fear-mongering”. Breast cancer charities don’t agree with them.

The NHS estimates that its screening programme saves around one life for every 200 women scanned - meaning around 1,300 lives saved annually.

Some women don’t take up their appointments because they don’t “like” the process which is a little uncomfortable. Fortunately, for the first time in five years, last year there was an increase in numbers taking up the offer.

I was one of the many women who’ve had cancer discovered through a routine mammogram. Rogue cells in my right breast caused Ductal Cancer in Situ (DCIS) which I was told could spread.

A skilled radiologist at the Royal Bolton Hospital’s Breast Unit took a biopsy which actually removed some of the rogue cells and surgery took care of the rest. I was on a drugs’ trial for five years and that was now 13 years ago.

Testing can save lives – why would you risk yours?