RCGP's report

Friday, November 25, 2011

Deborah Alsina, CEO, Bowel Cancer UK said: "This is a valuable report. It's very encouraging that the majority of patients are being referred reasonably promptly. However our main concern is that over 50% of bowel cancer patients are still being diagnosed with advanced disease. It is crucial for GPs to act quickly and to rule out bowel cancer first rather than last."

"Driving up participation rates in the NHS bowel cancer screening programme which is for people without symptoms must be prioritised as must the swift roll out of the flexible sigmoidoscopy screening programme. As a charity we hear terrible heart-rending stories of where diagnosis has come too late. This report takes us one step close to unlocking the puzzle of how we can stop people dying unnecessarily in the future."