I'm actually pleased that I ended up having the op in Finland. I was in a brilliant hospital and the leading surgeon was excellent. Apparently one of the top ones in his field there. They managed to put the ends of my bowels together successfully, so I never had a stoma bag.

I think it is changing also in England. Might already be lower, but I got my first kit when I turned 60 in 2019, so several years after I'd had cancer. I used to live in Scotland, but I was 42 when I moved down south.

However, I am still here, but with lifelong diarrhoea due to my large bowel having been removed. Had six months of chemo after returning home. I had been to my gp due to unexplained stomach pains, but at that point was only asked to check my diet.

Interesting topic. I have always gone to every screening I have been invited to. However, bowel cancer screening only currently starts at age 60. I was 55 in 2014 when on a trip to Finland, ended up in emergency surgery after a tumour had blocked my bowel. Apparently it had been there for 3-5 years!

Journalists should play back Farage's interviews to him, if he claims he hasn't said something, when he clearly has. Although, I'm sure he would wriggle out of that also. And his cult followers wouldn't care.

I learnt to read aged 4 (School in Finland starts at 7) and I've been reading ever since. My parents were factory workers with only basic education, but they read a lot. Local newspaper, magazines, books. My dad had a Readers' Digest (Finnish version)subscription since I was very young.