A CAMPAIGN to encourage people aged 50-74 to get screened for bowel cancer has been launched by the Ministry of Health.

More than 17,000 people die from bowel cancer annually in France with 37,000 cases diagnosed each year.

Bowel or colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in France and the second highest killer.

While treatments are always being developed, the best weapon is discovering the cancer early. If the cancer is found while still in the first stage then the survival rate is 94% – if found in the later stages it can be 5%.

Doctors can organise dé-pistage screenings for those in the 50-74 age group and give dietary advice that may be worthwhile even if the tests are clear.