'My bowel cancer diagnosis prompted me to raise awareness'

Nathaniel Dye says his cancer is terminal and he is in the last year of his life

"Pretty much as soon as I learned that cancer would kill me quite soon, I had this real intense desire to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer," said Nathaniel Dye.

The music teacher from east London, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2023, was recently appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his work campaigning for cancer awareness.

"I am officially terminal," the 39-year-old said. "I am in my last year of life and I would just love for someone, somewhere to hear, 'please get yourself checked'."

North-west London has the lowest bowel cancer screening uptake in England at 59% compared with 70% across the country.

Mr Dye was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which has spread to his liver, lungs and brain.

Since the diagnosis, he has raised more than £37,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support through challenges including walking from Land's End to John o' Groats and running the London Marathon while playing the trombone.

"If this does happen to you, I really hope it doesn't, but live," Mr Dye said. "Your life isn't over. I hope if nothing else I can show that.

"I had this real intense desire to raise awareness of the symptoms of cancer, so that essentially, people wouldn't end up like me - which is with a really horrible prognosis."

Mr Dye urges others to get checked if they have symptoms of cancer

Routine bowel cancer screening is currently from the age of 54, but in April that will lower to 50.

More than nine in 10 people survive bowel cancer when diagnosed at the earliest stage.

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at Bowel Cancer UK, said bowel cancer was the second biggest cancer killer and the fourth most common cancer in Britain.

"We're concerned about uptake in the South Asian communities," she said.

"And a lot of people struggle to name any of the symptoms of bowel cancer and that's something we'd really like to see change.

"The real red flags you want to look out for are any kind of blood from your bottom or blood in your poo."

She said a pain or lump near the stomach, unexplained weight loss and extreme tiredness were also symptoms to watch for.

'Catch more cancers quicker'

The previous government scrapped its intention to develop a 10-year cancer plan, but this government has said it is working on one.

"Our reforms to cancer care will ensure more than 100,000 people getting test results faster and thousands more starting treatment within two months," a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said.

"We are also investing an extra £1.5bn in new surgical hubs and AI scanners to help catch more cancers quicker."

Ms Edwards said the countries with cancer strategies have better outcomes around the world.

"It really does drive improvement," she added.

Watch the full story on BBC Politics London on iPlayer.