MP Welcomes Big Bowel Cancer Initiative

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Oct 2004

The announcement today by the government that it is rolling out a big programme of screening for bowel cancer was warmly welcomed by MP Vincent Cable, who has campaigned for this screening programme. It will also be good news for the bowel cancer charity based in St Margaret's, which has sought to raise the profile of bowel cancer as an issue.

Vincent Cable said: "I am delighted that cancer screening is to be extended in this way. Experience suggests that early detection is be far the best and most cost effective way of dealing with cancers. We now have effective breast cancer screening for women in middle age and the smear test for cervical cancer is being improved to reduce the numbers missed by error. But bowel cancer, which is now a major killer, especially of men, has not, until now been given priority."