The reality
A disease defined by timing
Bowel cancer is the UK's fourth most common cancer and its second-biggest cancer killer after lung cancer. Sources: Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK, Pall Mall Medical.
42,000+
new cases of bowel cancer in the UK every year
120
people diagnosed in the UK every single day
46
lives lost to bowel cancer each day
9 in 10
survive when it's caught at the earliest stage
The campaign
The Dirty Protest
Embarrassment kills. People put off mentioning a change in their bowel habits because the subject feels awkward — and that delay is exactly what bowel cancer thrives on. So Dr Tang decided to meet the taboo head-on.
Every April, for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, he leads an annual street campaign known as the Dirty Protest. Volunteers dressed as poo emojis and loo rolls march through UK city centres — from Manchester to Liverpool's John Lewis at Liverpool ONE — handing out treats, holding emoji balloons, and starting the conversations most people avoid.
The humour is the strategy. It's loud, it's hard to ignore, and it gives people permission to ask the questions they've been sitting on. Dr Tang is there in person to talk through signs and symptoms with anyone who stops.
The founder
Why this is personal for Dr Chun Tang
Dr Tang's work begins with one family and two very different outcomes. His father died of bowel cancer 16 years ago, having been diagnosed only at stage four, when treatment options had narrowed to surgery, chemotherapy and slim odds. His brother, by contrast, was diagnosed at stage one — and made a full recovery.
Same disease. Two outcomes. The difference, largely, was time. That contrast is what drives everything Dr Tang does today.
A fully GMC-registered GP who trained in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Manchester, Dr Tang practises as Medical Director and private GP at Pall Mall Medical in Manchester, a CQC-registered clinic. After losing his father, he brought the ColoAlert® bowel cancer test to the UK — a non-invasive, at-home stool test designed to flag the disease earlier, without waiting for an invasive colonoscopy.
He went on to found MeCheck so that the same clinical-grade screening used in private clinics could be ordered from home, by anyone, anywhere — without a referral, a long wait, or an awkward conversation standing in the way.
Know the signs
What to look out for
Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer — they're common, and usually caused by something far less serious. But if any of them last more than a few weeks, it's wise not to dismiss them. Get them checked.
01
A change in bowel habits
Looser or more frequent stools, or going more often than is normal for you, that doesn't settle.
02
Blood in your stool
Often caused by piles — but persistent bleeding is always worth getting looked at.
03
Ongoing tummy pain or bloating
Abdominal pain, cramping or bloating that keeps coming back, especially after eating.
04
Unexplained weight loss
Losing weight without trying or changing your diet or activity.
05
Tiredness or fatigue
Persistent, unexplained tiredness, which can be a sign of anaemia from slow blood loss.
Services We Provide
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Nonacus Clinical Services (UK Partner)
Specialism:
Genomics & Hereditary Cancer
Description:
Birmingham-based specialist genomics laboratory operating as Informed Genomics Limited, trading as Nonacus Clinical Services. Nonacus provides MeCheck’s hereditary cancer panel testing, bladder cancer (GALEAS®) liquid biopsy analysis, and molecular genomics services.
Accreditations:
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UKAS ISO 15189:2022
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Schedule No. 22262
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ISO 27001 Data Security
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GDPR Compliant
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ACMG / ACGS Variant Guidelines
Footnote:
Accreditation issued by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) — the sole national accreditation body recognised by the British Government. Accreditation assessed annually.
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Biovis Diagnostik MVZ GmbH (Germany Partner)
Specialism:
Bowel Cancer Screening
Description:
Specialist medical laboratory based in Limburg-Eschhofen, Germany, with over a decade of expertise in stool diagnostics, microbiome analysis, and cancer screening. Biovis provides MeCheck’s bowel cancer (ColoAlert®) testing services.
Accreditations:
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DAkkS ISO 15189:2024
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DIN EN ISO 15189
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Stool Diagnostics Specialist
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EQA Scheme Participant
Footnote:
Accreditation issued by Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) — Germany’s national accreditation body, operating under EU Regulation 765/2008. Equivalent in standing to UKAS accreditation in the UK.
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Bloodo / LifeLab1 (Lithuania Partner)
Specialism:
NAD, NMN & Cellular Wellness
Description:
Bloodo is a Vilnius-based clinical diagnostics company operating LifeLab1, a fully licensed clinical laboratory specialising in dried blood spot (DBS) testing, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), and advanced metabolic biomarker analysis. Bloodo provides MeCheck’s NAD and NMN cellular wellness testing services.
LifeLab1 maintains quality standards aligned with ISO 15189 and participates in international external quality assurance (EQA) programmes to ensure consistent, reliable results. The laboratory team comprises experienced medical biologists, quality specialists, PhD candidates, and doctors of pharmacy. Collaborative research is conducted with Vilnius University (Lithuania) and Malmö University (Sweden).
Licences and standards:
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ISO 15189 Aligned
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CE Marked · IVDR 2017/746
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EN ISO 13485 Manufacturing
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LHP-2819 Licensed
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NR-4864 State Accredited
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NM-334 Licensed
Footnote:
Regulated by Lithuanian state health authorities and the Lithuanian National Accreditation Bureau (LA) — a full ILAC MRA signatory and member of the European Accreditation (EA) network.
Additional standards
CE / IVDR — Clinically Validated Test Kits:
All test kits supplied by MeCheck carry CE marking under the EU In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), confirming they meet rigorous safety, performance, and clinical validity requirements before reaching consumers.
Clinical Review — Medically Reviewed Results:
All products are assessed for clinical appropriateness by Dr Tang before listing. Results are benchmarked against current clinical reference ranges and provided with clear, actionable guidance.