Study pinpoints high cancer risk
Simple screening test uncovers 192 cases
Patient Marie Barnes with Prof Colm O'Morain at yesterday's launch of bowel cancer screening programme results. Photo: Tommy Walsh
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A SMALL-scale bowel screening programme uncovered cancers and pre-cancerous tumours in 192 people who believed they were healthy.
The number of cases uncovered indicates the pressure there will be on hospital services when a promised national screening programme gets under way in early 2012.
The local community screening drive by Tallaght Hospital in Dublin invited 9,993 people to take a simple test to see if they might have bowel cancer, a disease which causes the deaths of 900 people every year.
Consultant gastroenterologist Prof Colm O'Morain said 5,063 accepted and 10pc had blood in their stools which needed further investigation.
After more than 400 of this group had colonoscopies -- a more intensive examination -- it emerged that 154 had pre-cancerous tumours and 38 were positive for the disease.
Speaking at the launch of the results of the two-year programme yesterday, Prof O'Morain said the group, aged 50 to 74, were sent written invitations to their homes to take part in the test. They were asked to send stool samples back to the hospital in special kits and these were then tested to find any traces of blood.
The Government has promised that a national bowel-screening programme will begin across the country in 2012, offering tests to people aged 60 to 69.
Prof O'Morain said 21 countries now have some form of bowel cancer screening programme and Ireland is lagging behind -- despite the high incidence of the disease here.
His team at Tallaght Hospital fitted in the people taking part in the screening programme on Saturday mornings when equipment was lying idle.
It is clear, however, that once the national screening programme is rolled out there will be considerable demand for additional diagnostic services to cope with the workload.
"The expertise gained from this programme will be crucial in the commencement of countrywide screening.
"It is estimated that practically all bowel cancer can be prevented or cured if early-stage cancers are detected and removed," he said.
The success in getting 87pc of those contacted after initial tests to agree to a colonoscopy was in no small way due to the manner in which those who had positive results were counselled by their nurse co-ordinator, he added.
One of the problems the national screening programme will have is in getting a high number of people to participate in it.
Unlike programmes for breast cancer, only around 50pc of those invited to take the test usually agree.
The uptake in Tallaght was 51pc and this was regarded as encouraging given that there was no public awareness campaign.
However, GPs played a role in encouraging patients to participate, although participation was still lower among men and socially deprived groups.
Warning signs of bowel cancer include:
- Change in bowel habits for more than a month.
- Any bleeding from the back passage.
- Regular feeling of trapped wind, or fullness, in the stomach area.
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Irish Independent
