News by Subject

Swine flu hits cancer screening

(BBC 06/11/2009)

A bowel cancer screening programme, due to begin in December, has been delayed, because money to pay for it has gone towards paying for swine flu instead. The Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, committed funds for the start of the programme back in 2008. The Ulster Cancer Foundation said it was disappointed at the decision. Each year in Northern Ireland around 400 people die from bowel cancer. It is the second most common cancer death in men and the third in women.

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Self-screening DVD launched

(The Scotsman 12/10/2009)

A DVD is to be launched to inform health professionals about a self-screening programme for bowel cancer. The ten-minute film has been created by the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme. Under the scheme people aged between 50 and 74 are sent a simple kit to conduct their own test, which is then sent to health professionals to assess. It has already saved lives, with a number of people undergoing treatment who would not otherwise have known they had the disease.

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Home-testing kit improves bowel cancer screening

(The Scotsman 05/02/2009)

HEALTH bosses today said a screening scheme for bowel cancer is paying off, with 19 people receiving potentially life-saving early treatment after being sent a home-testing kit. In a bid to encourage people to check themselves for the disease - the third most common cancer in Scotland - NHS Lothian decided to post the small packs to everyone in the area aged between 50 and 74.

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DIY cancer lifeline: Home test will save thousands... but Scots will get the most benefit

(Daily Mail 23/12/2008)

More than 2,000 lives will be saved every year thanks to home bowel cancer testing kits, scientists predict. The kits are sent to patients in the post and can detect early signs of the disease. The scheme will cover the whole of England and Scotland by the end of next year. However, in Scotland, everyone between 50 and 75 will be sent the tests. In England, only those aged 60 to 75 will qualify.

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Tests 'could cut deaths from bowel cancer by 150 a year'

(The Scotsman 27/08/2008)

BOWEL cancer screening could save about 150 lives a year in Scotland, research revealed yesterday.

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Wales to phase in bowel screens

(BBC 06/06/2008)

Full screening for bowel cancer in Wales will not be introduced until 2015, the assembly government admits.

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