Bowel Cancer Screening

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 3:04 pm on 3 November 2021.

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Photo of Joyce Watson Joyce Watson Labour 3:04, 3 November 2021

Diolch, Minister. Firstly, before talking about bowel cancer, I'd like to take this opportunity to remember our colleagues who have sadly lost their lives to this horrible disease in recent years. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in Wales, and that is despite it being very treatable if it's detected and treated early. Nine out of 10 people do survive bowel cancer if it's detected and treated early. And, as you've already pre-empted what I was going to say next, the Welsh Government has moved into a new phase of optimising the bowel screening programme setting out the national endoscopy action plan, and inviting men and women aged 58 to 59 to undertake that screening, and moving further into the next phase of people aged 50.

Bowel screening is crucial in that preventative approach and identifying those who may be at risk of developing bowel cancer. Will you, Minister, agree with me that it's hugely important that people take part in that bowel screening if and when they are invited to do so?