A petition to lower the age for bowel cancer screening to 45 years old is being handed over to parliament this lunchhour.
The national screening programme is free for people aged 60 to 74 years old.
Earlier this year it was announced the screening age for Māori and Pacific people would be lowered from 60 to 50, starting with trials in Waikato and Tairawhiti, then nationwide by July next year.
Petitioner Peter Marra says screening people younger will catch more cancers early when they are most easily treated.
He spoke to Māni Dunlop about his own experience with bowel cancer, and how New Zealand's screening compares to other countries.
