MARCH is finally here and we can say goodbye to the long dark nights and much of the bad weather we have endured over the winter.

The days are getting longer, it is definitely a lot milder and the sun is making regular appearances for a change.

The month heralds the official start of spring, which is, of course, a time of new life and new beginnings.

It is also a month that is hugely significant for me as it marked the beginning of my battle with bowel cancer.

Six years ago I underwent surgery at Inverclyde Royal Hospital followed by a course of chemotherapy. 

Thanks to the hard work and expertise of the medical team and the love and support of my family, friends and local community I came out the other side.

But it could have been a very different story.

It was purely by chance that I found out I had bowel cancer.

A test kit had arrived through the post and I decided to use it. That was probably one of the best decisions of my life. 

The early diagnosis gave me the best possible chance of beating what is a perfectly treatable disease.
April is bowel cancer awareness month

According to Cancer Research UK, bowel cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in the UK after lung cancer. Stopping smoking could almost eradicate lung cancer, but what about bowel cancer?

Doing a simple test could prevent around 16 per cent of those deaths, before people go to their GP with any symptoms. Knowing the signs and symptoms, and seeing your GP early could prevent even more.

The Scottish Bowel Screening Programme is designed to encourage people aged 50-70 to take part in bowel cancer screening. 

There are a lot of people, mostly men, who need to know this is nothing to be frightened of.

The message has to get out that it is selfish not to take the test as it can affect your family. 

Getting the all clear is obviously good news, but even if it is the worst case scenario it is not the end of the world, it is not a death sentence – look at me.