Calls Grow to Lower the Age for Bowel Cancer Screening in Ireland
Published
Campaigners and health experts are calling for changes to the age limit for bowel cancer screening in Ireland. Around one in ten bowel cancer diagnoses in the country are made in people under the age of 50, but the national BowelScreen programme is currently only offered to people in an older age group.
BowelScreen is a free public programme that checks for signs of bowel cancer before symptoms appear. Screening can find the disease early, when it is often easier to treat. At present, the programme does not invite younger adults, even though some of them are being diagnosed with the illness. Supporters of a change argue that this gap leaves a number of people without a chance to be checked at an early stage.
The proposal would mean that the screening age is lowered so that more people can take part. Those who support the change say it could help doctors find cancers sooner and may save lives. Health professionals also stress the importance of knowing the common symptoms, such as changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, or ongoing stomach pain, and of speaking to a GP if these signs appear, whatever a person's age.
For now, the screening programme remains open only to people in the current age range. Anyone who is worried about symptoms is advised to contact their doctor rather than wait for a screening invitation. Any decision to change the age limit would depend on future reviews by health authorities.
Sources: RTE.ie
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