We welcome Scotland’s new cancer strategy which names bowel cancer as a priority

The Scottish Government have launched their new cancer strategy which identifies bowel cancer as one of three cancers to be prioritised in the initial three year action plan.

The strategy aims to significantly cut the number of people diagnosed with later stage cancer and to reduce the health inequalities associated with the disease.

Currently 44% of bowel cancer patients in Scotland are diagnosed at stages 3 and 4. The strategy aims to reduce late-stage diagnosis as a proportion of all diagnoses from 42% of all cancer diagnosed down to 24% in 2033.

The highlights we are pleased to see from the strategy include the aims to:

• publish an optimal diagnostic pathway for bowel cancer to speed up diagnosis
• tackle inequalities in screening and cancer diagnosis
• invest in the NHS workforce with particular focus on endoscopy, pathology and oncology
• invest in training that will enable Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy (JAG) accreditation
• improve and expand cancer data publications to include total suspected cancer referrals and emergency presentations

Gerard McMahon, Head of Policy & Influencing (Devolved Nations) for Bowel Cancer UK said: "We welcome the Scottish government's new 10-year cancer strategy and are especially pleased to see that bowel cancer will be prioritised in the initial three year action plan. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Scotland but it's treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early, but sadly almost half of people (44%) in the country are diagnosed with the disease at the later stages, when it's harder to treat. We're pleased the strategy addresses this and aims to reduce the number of people diagnosed at a later stage.

"We know early diagnosis for bowel cancer is key but staff shortages and lack of capacity in endoscopy and pathology services continue to be the biggest barrier to making this a reality for more patients. We're pleased to see a commitment to invest in endoscopy training and to enable Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy (JAG) accreditation, which is the gold standard for colonoscopies, to ensure more people in Scotland have the best chance of an early diagnosis.

"As the strategy unfolds across the coming decade, we hope to see a greater focus on the optimisation of the bowel cancer screening programme so that the current FIT sensitivity is improved in line with UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) recommendations. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and supporting the NHS to deliver on these key objectives and ultimately to improve survival of bowel cancer."

• Read the Scottish Cancer Strategy and Action Plan in full
• Learn more about our work in Scotland