INVERCLYDE Provost Robert Moran is urging people to take the simple test that saved his life.

Councillor Moran, pictured, beat bowel cancer and is now backing the Scottish Government’s Detect Cancer Early campaign, which encourages people to get checked out by their GP and take part in a screening programmes. He is desperately keen to raise awareness about the disease, which is the third most common cancer in Scotland.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “I have been banging this drum for the past two to three years.

“If people don’t take the test then they are being selfish, especially on their family members who would be left to pick up the pieces if they’re told the devastating news that they have cancer.” Around 30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland each year, with breast, bowel and lung the most common tumour types. Thousands of people are now surviving cancer because it’s being detected earlier.

Participating in screening tests such as the existing breast and bowel cancer programmes remains the best way of detecting cancer at an early stage, before symptoms have a chance to develop.

Provost Moran added: “A lot of people are worried about getting the news that they have a positive result but most people never get to that stage as they find that it’s something easy and simple to fix. I was the worst case scenario but look at me and see the outcome — there are good outcomes.” With an ageing population, incidences of cancer are expected to increase but one way of tackling the disease is to detect more cancers early, when a wider range of treatment options are available, with a greater chance of survival. Thousands of people are now surviving cancer because it’s being detected earlier.

See your GP if you spot any unusual or persistent changes in your body. If you want to find out more information about cancer, contact NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88 or visit www.nhsinform.co.uk