A councillor is aiming to raise awareness of bowel cancer having been diagnosed with the disease last year.
Cllr Kevin Etheridge, who represents Blackwood and leads Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Independent Group, found out he had cancer after being sent a testing kit when he turned 60.
Cllr Etheridge later had surgery to remove the tumour on his bowel, which was the size of a tennis ball.
Despite being told the cancer had not spread and that he didn’t need chemotherapy, the anxiety of the situation caused Cllr Etheridge to lose three stone in weight.
The Blackwood councillor wrote to Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething AM, urging the Welsh Government to ensure more people are tested for the condition.
Only 55% of people in Wales take up the offer of these tests, which are offered by the NHS and provided by Bowel Screening Wales.
In response, Mr Gething said Welsh Government had recently committed to expanding the bowel-screening programme to include everyone aged 50-59 by 2023.
“The risk of bowel cancer increases sharply from the age of 50 and the evidence shows that screening people in this age group would enable more bowel cancers to be picked up at an earlier stage, when treatment is likely to be more effective and survival chances improved,” said Mr Gething.
Cllr Etheridge said: “I am pleased the Assembly has committed to expand the programme to include men and women aged 50-59, by 2023.
“Looking back now, it is vital that more people are aware of the test, because taking it could save lives.”
He added: “The waiting period between scans and results is the worst because you fear the worst.
“Luckily the tumour had not spread. But months of worry, stress and anxiety also led to three stone in weight loss during the period.”
Cllr Etheridge, who is now taking part in free sessions run by Bowel Cancer UK to explain symptoms, added: “A number of people have spoken to me concerning this matter and I am happy to talk to anyone on a confidential basis in regard to symptoms, having recently had surgery to remove a tumour on the bowel.”
For more information about testing kits, visit http://bit.ly/38PYGaU