P-05-936 Offer Bowel Cancer Screening After the Age of 74, Correspondence – Bowel Cancer UK to Committee, 07.02.20

I have received notification that the issue of Bowel Screening opt in for the over 75s was discussed at the petitions committee earlier this week.

This is currently an important campaign area for us in Wales and we are currently working with the Older People’s Commissioner to explore whether the Government position can be changed. I would be glad to brief the committee on the progress (or lack of!) we have made on this issue in the last 12 months.

I attach a note below from the widower of a gentleman who died from bowel cancer which I received just this week (I have her permission to use her name and her husband’s name was Clive):

“Opting back into bowl screening.  My husband wasn't screen after 73yrs because the next appointment fell after his 75th birthday. He was diagnosed at 76 stage 4 ascending bowel cancer. Untll this time he had no illness except diet controlled diabetes. On diagnosis we were told if it was diagnosed earlier he may have lived. The doctors told us at time of diagnosis that they were able to treat him so he went through 4 major ops and 2 complete courses of chemo. The excellent consultant in Velindre stated to me if only they had found it early he would have survived as until his diagnosis he was very fit man. He was 76 when diagnosed and died aged 81. If only screening was open to over 75yrs after which age the bowel cancer becomes more prevalent. Some people may live longer and not cast the health services so much money to no avail. Yours Mrs A Probert”

I look forward to hearing from you

Kind regards

Lowri