Northern Ireland announces the launch of a new test for intestinal cancer

Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Northern Ireland, with about 400 deaths each year. However, bowel cancer is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early. Screening is the best way to detect the disease at an early stage, when treatment offers the best chance of success. Almost all people diagnosed at the very beginning of their illness will survive, but this decline decreases considerably as the disease develops.

It has been more than two years since the UK National Control Committee recommended that all countries introduce FIT into their respective screening programs. Following this, the charity wrote to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health, Mr. Richard Pengelly, in August 2018 to express his concern at the fact that Northern Ireland does 39; had not yet made the commitment to introduce FIT, although it did not require the approval of the Minister to do so.

The benefits of FIT are well established. It has been proven that the test was significantly more accurate, with the potential to detect more cancers and four times more adenomas. It is also much easier to complete than the current screening test because only one sample is needed, instead of three. The pilot projects also showed an increase of about 10%, especially for those who previously did not know the test and people living in disadvantaged areas.

Scotland introduced the FIT in November 2017 and recorded record participation levels. Statistics show that between November 2017 and April 2018, 64% of eligible people returned their ITFs. During the same period the previous year, the previous test was used at 56%. The greatest improvement in FIT participation is in people living in the most deprived areas, from 42.0% to 51.8%.

Last month, Pengelly announced his intention to commission a new cancer control strategy in Northern Ireland to replace the current strategy, which is more than a decade old. This strategy should include a commitment to an optimal bowel cancer screening program, which includes lowering the age of screening and greater diagnostic capacity for overburdened services intended to support the realization of this saving initiative.

Deborah Alsina MBE, Executive Director of Bowel Cancer UK: "We are delighted that the Ministry of Health has finally committed to deploying the new, potentially more accurate fecal immuno-chemical test (FIT) in Northern Ireland from 2020 onwards. which means that the four UK will now have access to this rescue test. Bowel Cancer UK, in collaboration with other charities, has long called for this announcement because the new screening test changes the game for bowel cancer.

"It has the potential to detect more than thousands of cancers earlier, which means we can save more lives from the second-largest cancer killer in Northern Ireland.

"We look forward to working closely with the Government of Northern Ireland and other health organizations to ensure the implementation of an optimal screening program in Northern Ireland."

Currently in Northern Ireland, if you are registered with a GP and are 60 to 74 years old, you will receive a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every two years. Using the supplied cardboard sticks, you will be asked to provide two small samples of poo on a special selection card. You will have to do it three times over a period of 10 days. The test searches for hidden blood in your poop, which could be an early sign of bowel cancer.