THIRTY people who never knew they had bowel cancer have been diagnosed in the first year of a new screening programme. East and North Herts NHS Trust launched the scheme in March last year, sending out 36,897 stool testing kits to people in their 60s

THIRTY people who never knew they had bowel cancer have been diagnosed in the first year of a new screening programme.

East and North Herts NHS Trust launched the scheme in March last year, sending out 36,897 stool testing kits to people in their 60s in the first 12 months.

Of these, 21,478 - or 58 per cent - were returned, with 389 testing positive for traces of blood in the sample.

After further tests and examinations, 30 patients were found to have cancer. All have gone on to receive specialist treatment.

More on this in tomorrow's WHT.