'Don't be scared, that kit saved my life' - Chorley man fronts new bowel cancer screening campaign
In the North West, bowel cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths.
A bowel cancer survivor from Chorley is fronting the latest campaign to help save lives.
Gary Swift, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2025, is part of North West Cancer Research’s I’m Here Today screening campaign - which highlights the importance of completing and returning at-home bowel screening kits.
Across the UK, bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with people over 50 facing the highest risk. In the North West, bowel cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths, but around one third of people do not return their bowel screening kits.
FIT kits
Faecal Immunochemical Test, or “FIT kits”, are non-invasive, at-home bowel screening tests that check for invisible-to-the-eye traces of blood in poo, which can be an early indicator of bowel cancer.
The kits are sent every two years to people aged 50-74. However, around one third of people who receive a bowel test kit fail to return it, meaning early signs of cancer could go undetected.
To encourage higher uptake of the test, I’m Here Today… features six people from across the North West, sharing their powerful stories of the moments they’re now able to enjoy because their cancer was spotted early.
Gary’s story
Gary, 62, was diagnosed after using and returning his FIT kit. He said: “My last test had been all clear, but when I returned my kit in 2025, they found something that wasn’t quite right.
“The cancer they found was in the early stages, and they told me it was treatable. I remember them telling me about symptoms and side effects I might experience but, in that moment, all I could think of was: I’m not going to die.
“I felt so supported by the nurses and doctors, and there was a real feeling of ‘you’ve got it... but we’ve got you’.
“I was able to go back to work after being treated, and I am so glad I get to do the job I love every day, as well as staying on top of my fitness. I go to the gym every day, and I have shared my story with people there, too.
“I know some people may be scared to do their kit, because they think they would rather not know the outcome, but that kit saved my life. I’m still here today because of it, and I encourage anyone who gets sent a screening kit to use and return it.”
- Changes in your poo - such as softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation
- Needing to poo more or less often
- Blood in your poo - may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- The urge to go the toilet, even if you have just been
- Tummy pain, lump in your tummy or bloating
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Feeling very tired or short of breath
Dale Vimalachandran, Reader in Colorectal Surgery, University of Liverpool and Honorary Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Countess of Chester, said: “The earlier bowel cancer is detected, the more treatable it is, which is why is it so important for people to use and return their FIT kits as soon as possible, even if they have not experienced the main symptoms of bowel cancer.
“Many people may delay using and returning their kit, because they are scared, or embarrassed to do so. There is nothing to be ashamed of when completing a medical test, and the earlier you do so, the sooner you will know its outcome.
“Bowel cancer screening saves lives and can help put your mind at ease. When you receive your FIT kit, don’t put it off, use and return it.”
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Alastair Richards, CEO at North West Cancer Research, said: "Early-stage bowel cancer is highly treatable, but only if we catch it in time. That's why, as part of this campaign, we are urging everyone who receives a FIT kit to use it and return it straight away.
"The North West faces a stark reality: cancer rates here sit above the national average, driven in part by significant deprivation across the region. At North West Cancer Research, we refuse to accept that as inevitable.
"By funding pioneering, regionally tailored research and working closely with both leading experts and the communities we serve, we are determined to close that gap - and deliver real, lasting improvements in diagnosis and treatment for people across the North West."
For further information about I’m Here Today... including signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, visit: www.nwcr.org/imheretoday