Cancer survivor joins celebrity screening call after losing 15 family members to the disease
A Midlands woman who survived cancer after losing 15 members of her family to the disease has welcomed a new 'Screening Checker' launched for Stand Up To Cancer.
Jo Day says she was lucky to reach her 50th birthday after being diagnosed with bowel cancer a year ago. Early diagnosis and surgery meant the cancer didn't have chance to spread but Jo has been warned to be extra vigilant due to her extensive family history of cancer.
Now she is being regularly monitored and is backing a new, simple to use, screening eligibility checker developed for Stand Up To Cancer, a joint campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
The online checker features a host of famous faces including Meera Syal, Jessie J, Rosie Jones, Hugh Bonneville, Kelly Holmes, Davina McCall and Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
It follows the news that an estimated 9 million people are not up to date with their cancer screening.
The new tool will allow people to quickly check which NHS and Public Health Agency (PHA) in Northern Ireland cancer screenings apply to them and access helpful advice to decide if they’d like to take part. The celebrities will help break down barriers and explain why screening is important to them.
Screening can detect cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, and in some cases prevent the disease from developing altogether.
Jo, whose mum survived breast cancer thanks in part to screening, has shared her story to help raise awareness.
“I’ll never forget my dad thanking me for reaching my 49th birthday because his sister died of cancer aged 48,” said Jo. “Little did we know at the time of that conversation I actually had bowel cancer. It's so sad but I was lucky because I had symptoms and it was caught early. But even knowing what I did about my family, I didn’t like the idea of bowel screening.
“Now I tell everyone not to ignore their screening invitation because it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
Jo was diagnosed with early-stage bowel cancer after having surgery to remove a polyp in November 2024.
“I’d noticed blood in my poo over a period of two months and assumed I had piles,” said Jo. When I reported this to the doctor I was seen within seven days and given a colonoscopy. They found a polyp but lots of people have those, so I still didn’t think it was anything serious. I thought I’d have it removed and that would be it.”
But tests results after the surgery in December revealed that Jo’s polyp was actually cancerous.
“It was such a shock, but I felt really lucky that they’d caught it before it had spread any further,” said Jo. “We have a family history of relatives dying in December so breaking the news to my parents was one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do.”
Jo’s relatives have had cancers ranging from breast, prostate, blood, lung, bowel and ovarian so the family are now trying to get permission to test her cousin’s archived tissue samples for Lynch syndrome – a genetic alteration that increases the risk of several cancers including bowel.
Despite their tragic family history, Jo’s parents are both cancer survivors. Her dad, Ron Larvin, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 after experiencing symptoms. Six months later a routine mammogram revealed that her mum Mary had two completely different cancers in the same breast at the same time. For Jo’s sake, Mary is now being tested to find out if she’s a carrier of a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene which carries a 70 per cent risk of developing breast cancer by aged 80.**
Stories like Jo’s underline the urgent need to speed up life-saving progress in cancer research. Since its UK launch in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer has raised more than £113m, funding 73 clinical trials and projects involving more than 13,000 cancer patients nationwide.
The Screening Checker is just one part of this year’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign, which will culminate in an unmissable night of television on Friday 12 December on Channel 4. Fronted by Davina McCall and Adam Hills, alongside a host of celebrity guests, the live broadcast will feature special editions of much-loved shows like Celebrity Gogglebox and The Last Leg, moving patient stories, and fundraising moments.
Jo added: “I’m really excited to support this Stand Up To Cancer initiative, knowing that it could help save lives as well as support fundraising for research into cancer. I have a friend with three young children who survived cervical cancer because it was found early through screening so I hope people will take a few minutes to look at the Screening Checker.”
TV news reader and journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: “It’s an honour to be playing a small role in the launch of this Screening Checker for Stand Up To Cancer. There are at least 9 million people in the UK who aren’t up to date with their cancer screenings – and you, or someone close to you might well be one of them. Taking a look at this new checker or sharing it with someone you really care about, could be a life saver!”
Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “Screening can save lives, but many people are missing out. Navigating eligibility can be confusing for some, so this new Screening Checker is designed to make it simple. By taking just a few minutes to check, you could take an important step towards protecting your health. Stand Up To Cancer is about accelerating progress against cancer – and awareness is a vital part of that.”
Dr Harrison Carter, Director of Screening at NHS England said: "Screening can save lives by finding cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful, and in some cases preventing it from developing at all.
“So, when your NHS screening invite arrives – whether it’s for cervical or breast screening, or a bowel cancer testing kit through the post – please do make time to take it up.
"We know appointments and tests can sometimes feel awkward or easy to put off, but they really can make a difference. If you’re unsure about anything or have questions, speak to a healthcare professional – they’re there to help you make the choice that’s right for you."
To check if screening is for you, and to find out how to spread the word, go to standuptocancer.org.uk/screening-checker - screening saves lives, take action now.
