Our Main Goals
Bowel Cancer is the second most common cancer in men and women in Ireland. According to the 2023 National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) report, 2,560 men and women are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Ireland every year 1,466 men and 1,093 women. Yet, there is little awareness of this cancer and now 1 in 10 diagnosed is now under 50 years and sadly it is at an advanced stage too.
Bowel Cancer Ireland was set up in September 2022 where 9 Bowel Cancer Ladies joined forces to creating awareness, advocacy and peer support for Colorectal Cancer in Ireland:
Our main priorities;
1. Lower the screening age
We worked with the Marie Keating Foundations to try and reduce the screening age. In 2024 campaign launched in April , we launched a petition calling on the government to reduce the age for Bowel Screen from 59 to 50. Over 8,220 have signed the petition, only using social media and Bowel Cancer friends and family (sign petition here).
In late July 2024, we welcomed the news that the Health Information and Quality Authority is to assess whether the State should extend bowel screening to those aged between 50 and 54 years old.
2. Greater awareness among the public of symptoms of colorectal cancer
NoRegrets Campaign
Bowel Cancer Ireland have worked with Marie Keating in 2023 for the #noregrets campaign on social media.
This campaign was one of the most successful for Marie Keating foundation in years. It was dark and sad in black and white. As Bowel Cancer Ireland was only new, the video had only stage 4 Bowel Cancer patients.
Working with Irish Cancer Society
Irish Cancer Society started to work with us. They had a social awareness campaign and they were able to present to the Oireachtas Health Committee twice in April. In one of the meeting, it was highlighted that the Bowel Screening Programme is not meeting its target or it has not expanded down to 55 years.
“The ambition in the national cancer strategy was that bowel screening would be expanded to people aged between 55 and 74. That has not happened. The age has been brought down to 59, but we are still way off 55. As Ms Harte said, the ambition was also that the target for uptake would be 60% within that age cohort. That target has since been revised, having not been met, to 45% instead, so we are significantly behind in bowel screening and it is a crucial programme as regards picking up one of our deadliest cancers” Ms Averil Power on 06th April 2024.
Posters in Aviva
Awareness is limited. There are some flyers in the hospitals and doctors offices. In April 2024, in the Aviva stadium, there were toilet posters on Bowel Screening.
Our aspirations:
Bowel Cancer Ireland would love a national campaign for:
- Ireland will start talking about their poo and break this taboo.
- Bowel Screening Ireland – so the older population will go and complete a bowel test and improve the targets.
- Raise toilet posters awareness to the younger population of the symptoms.
(We had to google our symptoms)
3. Greater awareness GP’S of symptoms of colorectal cancer
Sadly, Bowel Cancer Ireland had to google our symptoms and find out that we need a colonoscopy to diagnose our cancer. Bowel Cancer is not an old person disease anymore. I in 10 who are diagnosed are under 50 years old. Bowel Screening test still would not make a difference to us but we need our GPs to have more options to give us access to a colonoscopy.
4. Advocacy & Peer Support
Peer Support Group
Private Facebook group
Over 200 patient or care givers have joined this peer support group. It is private and members have to agreed to four questions to be let into the group so it is mainly patient focus. It is scary to think that 200 patients need to find us and there is no peer support groups within the hospital. There are breast cancer/prostate/skin cancer support groups in Arc and other hospital settings. The reality for 30/40 year old patients- we had to google to find support.
Better access to clinical trials and new treatment
In Cancer Trails, there are numerous trials for all cancers. In 2023, Cancer Trial approached us to have patient advocate on their Gastrointestinal Group. We worked with Cancer Trials Ireland, Medical Practitioners to try and improve trials for our little sub set. Yet, there is only 1 trial for patients which is very restricted as it is industry lead trial. There are over 74 trial ongoing yet Head &Neck, Sarcoma, Lymphoma and Gastrointestinal have 1 trial only.
In the Oireachtas Health Committee (April 2024), Professor M. John Kennedy explained the complexity of trying to organise a trial in Ireland. Data Protection issues, not enough trained clinic trials staff and health regulatory environment and Irish small population does not make Pharmaceutical companies to invest in Ireland. Our wonderful oncologist usually trained abroad and develop great network so sometimes, patients can avail of compassionate reasons. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_health/2024-04-10/2/
Working with other Digestive Advocacy Groups
Bowel Cancer Ireland has worked with Digestive Cancer Europe so we can find out more on bowel cancer in Europe and create a network for the future. One of the ladies shared her story. 16 Stories of Courage and Resilience, the diagnosis came as a shock, as they had never heard of this cancer before due to their young age. Instead, this disease disrupts their lives during what is typically considered the most active and dynamic period of life — building a family, raising children, and pursuing their dreams
https://digestivecancers.eu/youre-young-but-it-might-be-cancer/
We are working with Bowel Cancer UK to get advice and support for our Peer Support Group.