Andy Love MP highlights importance of bowel cancer screening in Edmonton

Edmonton MP Andy Love has added his support to Beating Bowel Cancer’s annual “BE LOUD BE CLEAR” campaign highlighting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.

All people aged 60-69 in England are invited for screening every two years through the NHS bowel cancer screening programme. Yet, despite this, only 44.8 percent of people in London have taken part in screening since it was made available back in October 2006.

Given that bowel cancer is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, Andy is urging more Edmonton residents to make use of the screening programme. Over 90 percent of cases can be treated successfully if diagnosed early enough. Screening is therefore essential in improving outcomes for bowel cancer patients. Details can be found at www.beatingbowelcancer.org.

Urging more local residents to get screened, Andy said…

“It’s encouraging that 327,248 people in London have taken part in bowel cancer screening to date. However, that’s simply not enough and too many people are still dying from this curable disease. Instead of less than half of eligible people in London taking part in the screening, we need the participation rate to increase to at least 77 percent – in line with other cancer screening programmes.

“I’m pleased to be able to join the campaign and BE LOUD BE CLEAR because I know that even if I only encourage one person to make use of the screening programme then that could make a difference. I’m also supporting extending the age range for screening in England to those in their fifties so that more people at risk of bowel cancer have the opportunity to be screened for, and beat the disease.”