Cancer Society reveals colonoscopy waiting times

More than 1,000 patients living in fear of having bowel cancer are waiting more than 12 weeks for a colonoscopy, it emerged tonight.

The Irish Cancer Society said another 219 people were left for six months for the most effective procedure in diagnosing the killer disease – with 36 not seen for more than a year.

That data, calculated by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) which manages public hospital waiting lists, showed a steady increase in waiting list numbers since December.

Joan Kelly, nursing services manager with the Irish Cancer Society, urged patients waiting longer than six weeks for a colonoscopy to contact their GP.

“If patients are waiting for longer than three months, it’s important to know that you can contact the NTPF to discuss referral for a colonoscopy to a private hospital free of charge,” she said.

“If you are concerned about bowel cancer, you can also speak in confidence with a specialist cancer nurse by calling the Irish Cancer Society’s National Cancer Helpline.”

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland, after lung cancer.

There were 2,216 new cases in 2008 and 966 deaths from the disease.

More than 50% of patients in Ireland are diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 bowel cancer – the most advanced stage. Fewer than 5% of those with stage 4 survive for longer than five years.

Fine Gael Senator Frances Fitzgerald said the figures were extremely serious.

She criticised health chiefs for making empty promises after the death of Susie Long – who died in October 2007 after waiting seven months for a colonoscopy to diagnose her bowel cancer.

“It must be remembered that, whether routine or urgent, some of the patients awaiting these tests may be facing a cancer diagnosis so time is absolutely of the essence,” said Senator Fitzgerald.

“Access continues to be a privilege rather than a right in the Government’s two-tier health system and it’s clear that waiting lists will not be ended while the same bad policies continue to be pursued.”

Warning signs for bowel cancer include a change in bowel habits lasting more than a month; anal bleeding; regular feeling of trapped wind or fullness in the stomach area and weight loss and tiredness.

Kathleen O’Meara, head of advocacy and communications at the Irish Cancer Society, said hospitals and patients are not using the NTPF to clear their backlog.

“It is important that hospitals, and indeed patients themselves, are aware that the NTPF service is available,” she said.