Earlier Greg Smith MP met with representatives from Bowel Cancer UK to be briefed and receive a copy of their new report "Finding the missing 95%: Unlocking the potential of Lynch syndrome services."
Bowel cancer is the UKs second biggest cancer killer, but 9 out of 10 people will survive bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage, compared to just 1 in 10 at the latest stage. Yet at the moment only 4 in 10 are diagnosed at the earliest stage. There is so much more to do to ensure all bowel cancer patients are diagnosed earlier and Greg will work with the charity and the APPG to make asks of the government to make this happen.
Greg was pleased to see data from a recent study by Bowel Cancer UK demonstrated Buckinghamshire, as part of the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance, had the highest possible score in terms of the following criteria:
• Adherence to NICE /BSG guidelines
• Offering genetic counselling
• Providing regular colonoscopic surveillance
• Offering letters to close relatives or people with Lynch syndrome to take to their GP
