Bowel cancer patient Andrew Lansley leads MPs backing The Sun’s call for screening to start at 50 NOT 60
FORMER Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has today backed The Sun's campaign - calling for bowel cancer screening to start at 50 not 60.
At the age of 61 doctors diagnosed him with stage 3 bowel cancer.
He only went to see his GP about nine months ago, after his wife nagged him to get a niggling pain in his back checked out.
But thanks to his perceptive doctor, Mr Lansley was referred straight to hospital where tests discovered the tumours growing in his intestines.
He underwent a seven-hour op and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. He's hopeful he will be one of the lucky ones.
Today the former minister along with MPs from across the political spectrum are backing The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign, calling for the screening age to be lowered to 50 - in line with Scotland.
Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, ex-Health Minister Norman Lamb, Mayor of London candidate Zac Goldsmith and Labour’s Shadow Communities Secretary Andrew Gwynne also backed our call.
Mr Lansley said far too many people are dying of bowel cancer and screening Brits from the age of 50 would help diagnose more people quicker.
Experts reckon that 4,700 lives could be saved every year by offering earlier testing.
Early diagnosis really can help and treatment can be much less radical and people’s lives don’t have to be changed by it
Andrew Lansley
If the disease is caught at stage 1 people have a 97 per cent chance of surviving for five years or more.
But if they're diagnosed at stage 4 - the most advanced stage - that plummets to just seven per cent.
Mr Lansley, who was Health Secretary between 2012 and 2014 under David Cameron, told The Sun: "The numbers that are dying are still far too high, and we’ve got about 10 per cent who are being diagnosed only when they are arriving at A&E, which can be quite severe.
"I was diagnosed at 61 and had no idea as I was symptom-free. The tumours did not grow rapidly, it might have been around for some years beforehand.
SCREENING FROM 50 IS A NO BRAINER - IT COULD SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES
THE Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign is calling for bowel cancer screening in England to start at 50 NOT 60.
The move could save more than 4,500 lives a year, experts say.
Bowel cancer is the second deadliest form of the disease, but it can be cured if it's caught early - or better still prevented.
Caught at stage 1 - the earliest stage - patients have a 97 per cent chance of living for five years or longer.
But catch it at stage 4 - when it's already spread - and that chance plummets to just seven per cent.
In April, Lauren Backler, whose mum died of the disease at the age of 55, joined forces with The Sun to launch the No Time 2 Lose campaign, also supported by Bowel Cancer UK and Beating Bowel Cancer. Donate .
Lauren delivered a petition to the Department of Health complete with almost 450,000 signatures, to put pressure on the Government to make this vital change - one that could save thousands of lives every year, and the NHS millions.
We all deserve an equal chance to beat this disease, regardless of where we live.
We know bowel cancer is more likely after the age of 50 - so it makes sense to screen from then.
Plus, it's got to save the NHS money in the long-run, catching the disease before patients need serious and expensive treatments.
It's a no brainer, thousands of lives are at stake every year.
You can still sign Lauren's petition to show your support -
"People often say with cancer that the best hope you can have is to live with it.
"But the best you can hope for is to be diagnosed early and be cured - it makes a huge difference.
"Early diagnosis really can help and treatment can be much less radical and people’s lives don’t have to be changed by it."
Revealing his cancer last month, he said that when he was in office he had plans to roll out a one-off flexible ‘bowel-scope’ test at the age of 55, which would then be opened up nationally.
If this had happened, it would have saved around 3,000 more lives every year - but training for this new programme is set to take years and the NHS doesn’t have the capacity to do it.
"By preventing cancer and through early diagnosis, we can save lives and money," he added.
"It will require an upfront cost, to invest in the pathology and endoscopy workforce but, by detecting more cancers early or preventing them altogether, it will lead to savings.
"It will save lives and improve outcomes for patients, and also save money for the NHS in treating later-stage bowel cancers."
He backed ministers’ promises to start using a new, more effective screening called FIT, and hoped that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England boss Simon Stevens would get behind The Sun’s campaign.
Bowel cancer by numbers...
2 – bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer
4 – it’s the fourth most common form of cancer
42,000 – people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year
1,300 – people will lose their lives this month to the disease
15,903 – lives will be lost this year to bowel cancer
44 – people die every day
30 – that’s one bowel cancer patient every 30 minutes
15 – every 15 minutes someone is told they have bowel cancer
97 – 97 per cent of people diagnosed in the earliest stages will survive for five years or more
7 – only seven per cent survive when diangnosed at the latest stage
60 – 83 per cent of people who get bowel cancer are over the age of 60
50 – it’s more common over the age of 50 but ANYONE can get bowel cancer, you’re never too young
2,500 – the number of under 50s diagnosed each year
268,000 – people living with bowel cancer in the UK
Zac Goldsmith said: ";I very much support the Sun’s campaign to lower the screening age for bowel cancer.
"It is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and a significant number of people are affected before the age of 60. Early diagnosis will save countless lives.”
Basettlaw MP John Mann backed the campaign too, after both his parents died from the terrible disease.
He told The Sun: "I lost both my parents to bowel cancer, my father at 47 and my mother was aged 57.
"They will never know that I am now an MP and they have missed meeting their grandchildren and great children. Two lost lives that may have been saved if screening for younger people had been available."
Fylde MP Mark Menzies said: “I fully support The Sun’s campaign to lower the screening age for bowel cancer.
"This is a worthy campaign that makes absolute sense – the earlier we are able to diagnose and treat bowel cancer, the more lives we can save. The more awareness we raise of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, the better."
Politicians backing The Sun’s campaign to lower the screening age
Ex-Lib Dem leader and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron: “Sadly every family has been affected by cancer at some point - including my own.
“I’m proud to support such an important campaign – early diagnosis will save so many lives.”
Zac Goldsmith, Conservative MP for Richmond Park: “I very much support the Sun’s campaign to lower the screening age for bowel cancer.
“It is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK and a significant number of people are affected before the age of 60. Early diagnosis will save countless lives.
Andrew Gwynne MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: “Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early.
“We all need to make ourselves aware of the early signs, and to visit the GP if things don’t feel right.
“At the very least the they may be able to put your mind at rest or refer you for further testing. Early diagnosis really can save lives.”
Former Health Minister and Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb: “I support this campaign. The fact that Scotland has looked at the evidence and recognised it, the case for supporting it seems very powerful.
“There was a case recently, the BBC’s George Alagiah, who got bowel cancer in his 50s and it would have been picked up had it been in Scotland.
“I would urge them to look at the experience from Scotland and see if it's possible to save lives by lowering the threshold.”
Ex-Shadow Justice Secretary and Labour MP Andy Slaughter: “Screening for bowel cancer from 50 will save lives and allow the NHS to treat this terrible disease earlier and with more success.
“Many families, including my own, know the tragic consequences of late diagnosis when it is too late for effective treatment.”
Conservative MP for Flyde, Mark Menzies: “I fully support The Sun’s campaign to lower the screening age for bowel cancer.
“This is a worthy campaign that makes absolute sense – the earlier we are able to diagnose and treat bowel cancer, the more lives we can save. The more awareness we raise of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, the better.”
Former Environment Secretary and Conservative MP for Meriden, Dame Caroline Spelman: “I am delighted to lend my support to The Sun’s Bowel Cancer campaign, calling on the Government to lower the bowel cancer screening age from 60 to 50.
“Across the UK 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year and it is estimated that lowering the screening age by 10 years at this crucial time could save an estimated 4,700 lives per year”.
Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne, Stephen Lloyd: "Research has supported the Sun's campaign which is absolutely great.
"I've been on board with this for ages and am absolutely delighted to
see it picked up.
"This really is a no brainer, we need to put the screening age down. The Department for Health must find the capacity.”
Conservative MP for St Austell and Newquay, Steve Double: “Bowel cancer is a terrible disease and I am committed to doing all I can to raise awareness so people can be diagnosed at an earlier stage and enjoy a much higher chance of survival.”
“It makes sense to lower the screening age for bowel cancer from 60 to 50, as it already is in Scotland, to give thousands of people a better chance of beating bowel cancer. I am delighted to join The Sun in their campaign to push for this crucial change.”
Labour MP for North Tyneside, Mary Glindon: “We all know that the earlier cancer is detected the higher the survival rate, so early screening is very important. But many people don’t know the signs of cancer and consequently are diagnosed at a stage when their cancer has become incurable. This campaign, at the very least, will make people young and old aware of the signs of bowel cancer and help to save lives”
Conservative MP for Rugby, Mark Pawsey: “The Government is absolutely committed to the fight against cancer and survival rates in the UK have never been higher but there is more that can be done.
“There is no doubt that early diagnosis is key and that is why I am backing The Sun’s campaign to lower the screening age for bowel cancer.”
Conservative MP for Harrow East, Bob Blackman: “I am a strong supporter of this campaign and I believe that this a real lifesaver.
“Most people do not know the warning signs so early screening can identify this terrible condition at an early stage and our excellent doctors and nurses can assist.
“Sadly they often have to try and treat patients when it is too late to be able to save their lives. We need greater awareness of the symptoms and the ability of medical staff to treat them.”
Labour MP for Keighley and Ilkley, John Grogan: “I support the Sun’s Campaign.
“Scotland has led the way in the U.K on many public health measures. Like the banning of smoking which first occurred North of the border screening for bowel cancer for the over 50’s could save many lives.
“For some children it could make a big difference in making sure they have the benefits of the guidance of grandparents as they grow up rather than losing them early to this disease.”
Labour MP for Vauxhall, Kate Hoey: “I am happy to support the Sun’s campaign. We all know that earlier diagnosis makes a huge difference to survival rates.
“But treating bowel cancer earlier as well as saving lives will will actually save the NHS money too. So lowering the age to 50 for testing is just common sense”
Conservative MP for York Outer, Julian Sturdy: “Early detection is vital for tackling this disease, something which has been brought home to me recently by the diagnosis of a member of my family.
“Lowering the screening age could bring greater peace of mind to families up and down the country, and I urge the government to listen to this campaign and seriously consider the feasibility of this proposal.”
Conservative MP for Crawley, Henry Smith: “Earlier bowel cancer screening could save thousands of lives across England but more so, it would save suffering, heartache and our NHS money longer term.”
Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge, Ellie Reeves: “Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK and I sympathise profoundly with anyone who has suffered from this terrible disease. However, it has been shown that when diagnosis is made early, bowel cancer can be cured in over 90% of cases.
“I believe that investment in local screening programmes go a long way in helping make early diagnoses and saving lives. I am proud of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme which was rolled out between 2006 – 2010 and has helped to detect over 7000 cancers.
“However, this programme is only offered to people over the age of 60 and to those aged between 55 – 60 if the service is available in their area. Lowering the age to 50 could potentially help over 4,000 patients a year receive a much earlier diagnosis and further remove the ‘diagnosis lottery’ for those aged between 55 – 60.”
Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, John Baron: “Earlier diagnosis is cancer’s ‘Magic Key’, as the earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chances of successful treatment.
“This is especially true of bowel cancer, and I am supportive of initiatives, such as wider screening programmes, which aim to catch cancers early.”
Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, Tim Loughton: “I’m happy to support The Sun’s campaign.”
Labour MP for High Peak, Ruth George: “I’m happy to support the campaign.”
Labour MP for Wrexham, Ian Lucas
Labour MP for Newport West, Paul Flynn
Labour MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner
Labour MP for Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Paul Farrelly
Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, Jonathan Edwards
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The Sun’s columnist Deborah James discovered she was battling bowel cancer at 35.
The mum-of-two is now in remission and clear of the cancer after 21 rounds of chemo and six operations, but not everyone is so lucky.
She's backing the No Time 2 Lose campaign.
She’s calling on people to learn the red-flag signs of the disease – from blood in your poo to changing loo habits.
“By learning the signs you’re arming yourself with the knowledge that could save your life, or that of a loved one,” she said.
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