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UCF call for Bowel Cancer Screening
By Derval Keenan, 6/1/2005 12:24:43 PM
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The Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) held a reception at the Long Gallery, Stormont to raise awareness of bowel cancer in Northern Ireland. The event is part of UCFs ongoing Against Bowel Cancer campaign during April, bowel cancer awareness month.
The leading cancer charity took the opportunity to call for investment to be made in order to facilitate an effective screening programme. Arlene Spiers, Chief Executive of UCF speaking at the event said, Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Northern Ireland. It mainly occurs in the over 50s, affecting both men and women, with around 1,000 cases of bowel cancer diagnosed each year and approximately 400 deaths.
Bowel cancer can be prevented through lifestyle changes but it can best be treated if diagnosed early. Our ABC campaign highlights preventative measures people can take and raises awareness of the early signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. However, bowel cancer isnt just a public education issue and as part of this vital campaign, we are urging the Health Minister to announce a programme of screening for bowel cancer in Northern Ireland. This will enable early detection and the most timely treatment for bowel cancer patients.
£39m has already been invested in England and Wales to facilitate bowel cancer screening from 2008. No similar screening programme has been put in place for Northern Ireland. We dont want to see Northern Ireland lagging behind when it comes to introducing screening programmes, says Arlene Spiers. An effective screening programme can reduce the number of people dying from cancer and this is clearly evident in the case of cervical screening. In Northern Ireland where cervical screening is available to women between the ages of 20 59, there has been a 2% reduction in the number of deaths per year. In comparison in the Republic of Ireland where no effective national screening programme is in place, the death rate continues to rise by 1.5% per year.
Dr Bill McConnell, Director of Public Health in the Western Area Health Board spoke on the need for a bowel cancer screening programme and the implications of setting up such a system. He said, This is a screening programme we really need in Northern Ireland. We tend to see people coming late to doctors with their symptoms but the earlier we see and diagnose their condition then the better the results. Early diagnosis also means that the treatment required is less difficult and disruptive to the patient.
The pilot bowel cancer screening programmes have been shown to work effectively in other parts of the UK. However, they require substantial planning and preparation time to get staff trained and in place to respond to peoples needs. An effective education campaign also needs to be put in place to explain how the screening process will work and encourage people to participate in it. This preparatory work needs to be started as soon as possible to ensure that we have a good system in place.
UCFs Against Bowel Cancer campaign, sponsored by Merck Pharmaceutical, urges people to eat a diet rich in fibre, fruit and vegetables, to reduce the amount of fat and processed meat eaten, as well as taking regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight. It also encourages people to try to overcome the embarrassment associated with detecting the disease and highlights the symptoms, which include:
· Change in bowel habits lasting up to six weeks including diarrhoea or constipation
· Persistent bleeding from the rectum
· Unexplained weight loss
· Pain or discomfort in the stomach area
· Extreme tiredness
· Feeling of not having emptied bowel properly after bowel motion
Arlene Spiers added, If you are worried that you are experiencing any of these symptoms it is important that you go to your doctor. To raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, we have distributed posters, leaflets and ABC campaign boxes to GPs surgeries, hospitals and pharmacies across Northern Ireland.
If you have any concerns about bowel cancer or any other forms of cancer please contact UCFs confidential Freefone Cancer Helpline on 0800 783 33 39.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Pauline Wylie, PR & Events Manager, UCF
Tel: 028 9049 2007 or 07810 371118
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