Experts make plea for cancer screening programme

A screening programme that will save hundreds of lives by diagnosing the early stages of bowel cancer should be rolled out across the country, experts said today.

The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) said a blood test should be offered to 55 to 77-year-olds every two years to combat the killer disease that claims some 930 lives each year.

Bowel, or colorectal cancer, is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the Republic with more than 2,000 new cases diagnosed each year – the highest in Western Europe.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) said the programme would result in a 36% drop in deaths.

Tony O’Brien, of the NCSS, revealed population screening for colorectal cancer has the potential to be one of the most effective public health interventions in the history of the Irish healthcare system.

“We now have a real opportunity to introduce a quality assured programme that is capable of providing huge clinical benefit in a cost effective manner,” he added.

Over the last 15 years the number of bowel cancer cases has risen by approximately 20%, and is expected to jump by 79% in men and 56% in women by 2020 as the population increases and grows older.

Health Minister Mary Harney has asked HIQA to identify ways of introducing the scheme within current resources available.

The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) confirmed it has already held talks with health chiefs about funding some of the cost of the initial roll-out of the potentially life-saving programme.

“I want to introduce a national programme of colorectal cancer screening as soon as possible,” said Ms Harney, welcoming the report by an expert advisory group on colorectal cancer.

“Colorectal cancer kills over 900 people in Ireland every year.

“The expert reports confirm that a properly organised screening programme would have huge public health benefits and I want to find innovative ways of putting that in place.”

The ICS – which has campaigned for a cut in waiting lists for colonoscopies - is also engaged with HIQA in the design of a possible programme service.

The NCSS expert group, chaired by Professor Niall O’Higgins, said an estimated 700,000 people would be eligible for a population-based immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBt).

It recommended anyone with a positive result should be offered a full colonoscopy.

The report said four screening centres, each with two endoscopy suites, would be initially required to provide up to 12,000 colonoscopies each year following the blood tests.

Extra consultants, specialist nurses, radiographers, and administrative and technical staff would be needed for the screening service.

Elsewhere it said screening colonoscopy centres should be located in association with a designated cancer centre and form part of the cancer networks so that ancillary facilities of a symptomatic service can be available.

Mr O’Brien continued: “We believe there are a number of means of reducing programme implementation costs, including examining the potential integration of existing colonoscopy services, expanding the role of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner and recouping a portion of the approximate €3m currently paid to private health insurers annually for screening related activities.”

Based on the previous experience of the NCSS in the implementation of BreastCheck and CervicalCheck, it is estimated that it would take in excess of two years from policy and funding approval to the commencement of screening, he added.