Durkan Pledges To Help Save Lives From Bowel Cancer

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has pledged his support to help save lives from bowel cancer this week at Westminster after attending a parliamentary reception to mark the 25th Anniversary of Bowel Cancer UK and the launch of the charity's new report 2025 Challenge: Saving and Improving Lives.

Bowel cancer is the UK's second biggest cancer killer, and the overall five-year survival rate of those diagnosed is just over 50%. However, in its new report, Bowel Cancer UK states that the government could cut deaths from bowel cancer by 60% by 2025 if it followed its recommendations. Bowel Cancer UK's ambition is also for an additional 2,500 people with bowel cancer per year living for at least five years after diagnosis by 2025.

Mr Durkan said: "Nearly half a million people in the UK have died from bowel cancer in the past 25 years.

"However, it is important to note that if diagnosed early, over 90% of bowel cancer patients could be successfully treated compared with less than 7% of patients diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer.

"I hope that by supporting Bowel Cancer UK and working together to raise awareness, we can help save lives from bowel cancer in Derry and throughout the North."

Deborah Alsina, CEO, Bowel Cancer UK said: "We want to dramatically improve outcomes for people affected by bowel cancer, minimising the disease's impact and helping people lead longer, healthier and happier lives.

"We have a duty to save more lives and the proposals outlined in this report should be the government's absolute minimum goal.

"We look forward to working with the government, NHS and other charities to help save more lives from the UK’s second biggest cancer killer."

(CD)