The number of people availing of potentially life-saving bowel cancer screening through a national programme has been described as disappointing by the Irish Cancer Society.
BowelScreen aims to detect signs of bowel cancer at an early stage, when there are no symptoms, and is available to people aged 59 to 69 years.
The HSE last Friday announced the scheme was being extended to people aged up to 70 from today, which marks the beginning of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.
Some 2,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the State each year and it is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths.
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The society said it was concerned that Ireland’s already low target of 45 per cent uptake in bowel cancer screening was missed last year, with just 41 per cent of those eligible participating.
Ireland’s target to screen 45 per cent of eligible people is significantly lower than the European Union’s recommended uptake rate of 65 per cent, it noted.
BowelScreen offers a free home test kit to eligible people by post. Participants use the kit to take a faeces sample, which they post back to the service in the freepost envelope provided. The results from their sample are sent out within four weeks.
Steve Dempsey, director of advocacy and communications with the society, said it was “deeply concerned” by the rate at which people were participating in the programme.
The society highlighted the case of Tom McHugh (64) from Dublin, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2023.
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Mr McHugh realised he had not received a home test kit when his wife, who is younger than him, received hers. He contacted BowelScreen and received a kit, through which his diagnosis of bowel cancer was detected.
“I am proof that screening works and for anyone hesitating, I would strongly encourage you to please participate,” he said.
“I was fit and healthy. I had no symptoms whatsoever and yet bowel cancer was there, and it would have got a lot worse had it not been caught early through the screening programme.”
