Kirsty Laing, a 34-year-old mother and radiology department worker at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Scotland, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer after experiencing stomach cramps she initially dismissed as a minor issue. The cancer had spread to her liver, and she required immediate surgery to prevent perforation. She is now in the final stages of curative chemotherapy.
Ms Laing has launched a campaign to lower the bowel cancer screening age from 50 to 30, arguing that earlier detection could have improved her prognosis. Her petition has gathered nearly 50,000 signatures. She told The Independent: 'I just want as many people to have a fighting chance at surviving if they are diagnosed with bowel cancer.'
According to Cancer Research UK, early-onset bowel cancer (diagnosed in those aged 25 to 49) has risen by 52 per cent since the 1990s. Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, described the increase as 'small but significant' and called for more research into possible causes including genetics, lifestyle and environment. Nicola Smith, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, noted that while screening benefits are clear, there is a risk of overdiagnosis of harmless cancers.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) sets screening ages based on evidence. Ms Smith added that NHS England announced plans in January to lower the screening threshold, but no further details were provided in the source. Kirsty Laing said: 'They asked me all the time: “Have you noticed any kind of changes in your bowel habits?” I didn’t notice a lot of change.'
