BowelScreen - The National Bowel Screening Programme released its inaugural programme report, providing screening statistics for the first screening round of the programme’s operation (2012 – 2015).
Cancer rate for men double that of women yet uptake of free screening low
Today BowelScreen – The National Bowel Screening Programme released its inaugural programme report, providing screening statistics for the first screening round of the programme’s operation (2012 – 2015). The release of the report coincides with Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, which runs throughout April.
Launched by Minister Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, TD, Minister of State for Health Promotion, the report highlights that BowelScreen invited 488,628 eligible people to participate in the programme with a total of 196,238 people screened and 521 cancers detected. This resulted in a screening uptake rate of 40.2% and a cancer detection rate of 2.65 per 1,000 people screened.
Commenting on the first screening round of BowelScreen, Charles O’Hanlon, Head of Screening at the National Screening Service, said: “During the first screening round, 521 cancers were detected, three out of four cases at an early stage with a corresponding high survival rate. Almost 13,000 adenomas were also removed during the first screening round. Adenomas are abnormal tissue growths that can become cancerous at a later stage. The removal of adenomas greatly reduces the possibility of subsequent cancer development, making BowelScreen a truly lifesaving programme.”
“While there have been challenges in establishing a new population screening programme, this report demonstrates that BowelScreen is detecting and treating bowel cancers and pre-cancerous changes at an early stage. BowelScreen is saving lives. There is more we can do to learn and improve uptake rates as we move forward; however it is important to acknowledge the successes of the programme to date.”
Despite BowelScreen’s success at detecting cancer at an early stage, the report reveals a low uptake of screening with just 40 per cent of eligible men and women participating in the programme. The uptake for women was higher than men (44.1 per cent compared to 36.4 per cent) yet the cancer detection rate among men was double that of women.
Launching the report, Minister Corcoran Kennedy, said: “The first round of BowelScreen has clearly had a positive impact on the health of many of our people. At the same time, we must redouble our efforts to increase uptake rates for this free service, especially among males who have lower rates of participation but much higher rates of disease detection under BowelScreen. In that regard, I am delighted to see that the National Screening Service is working with a number of organisations to combat the lower uptake amongst men in particular.”
Professor Diarmuid O’Donoghue, Clinical Director of BowelScreen, said: “Low uptake of screening is worrying given bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in this country. We are particularly concerned about men, given that the cancer detection rate among males is twice as high as it is for females. It is so important that the men of Ireland take control of their health and do the test. It is a very quick, easy-to-use test that can be carried out in the privacy of your own home. It takes just minutes and most results are normal.”
Professor O’Donoghue continued: “Going forward, BowelScreen is committed to making continual improvements in the quality of the programme and in increasing uptake. Although, there remain a number of years before the programme is fully embedded and delivering to its maximum potential, it is clear from the results above that a strong foundation has been created, upon which to build further success.”
Sixty five year old, Christopher Fennell from Clondalkin, took the BowelScreen home test last year. He is enjoying living life to the full after the removal of many precancerous adenomas.
Mr Fennell said: “I did the at home test when it came in the post and after that, I got a letter telling me I needed to get a colonoscopy. I had to have it done twice as there were so many pre cancers. If I hadn’t done the free test, who knows what might have happened. I would encourage anyone who is invited to do the test.”
Anyone aged 60 to 69 can register for BowelScreen online at www.bowelscreen.ie or by calling the Freephone number 1800 45 45 55.
Brief overview of performance, from 22 October 2012 to 31 December 2015 (first screening round):
The BowelScreen Programme Report is available to view or download here.
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NOTES TO THE EDITOR