Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Mick Bates AM has pledged to support Cancer Research UK’s new Screening Matters campaign. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of the NHS cancer screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer, as well as the upcoming bowel cancer screening Programme. It will also reach out to those people eligible for screening who aren’t taking part.

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates: “I welcome the introduction of bowel cancer screening in Wales which should begin roll out 2008. Studies have demonstrated that screening is effective and really does save lives but we could save even more. So it’s essential that this goes hand-in-hand with effective public information, to raise people’s awareness of the programme and how important it is that they take part.

“I have pledged my support to Cancer Research UK’s Screening Matters campaign, where over 100,000 people have signed up to so far. I am encouraging local people to get involved too by signing their own political and personal pledge. I have written to the Minister for Health to request a timetable for the roll-out of bowel cancer screening in Montgomeryshire and I look forward to receiving her response.”

Individuals are being encouraged to sign up to the campaign at www.cancercampaigns.org.uk. The Screening Matters campaign highlights the particular areas where Cancer Research UK would like the Welsh Assembly Government to take most urgent action on, seeking commitments to:

1. Screen at least 200,000 more people in Wales over the next five years.
2. Reduce the variation in screening across the UK.
3. Reach out to people eligible for screening who aren’t taking part.
4. Provide the best possible screening programmes through funding, staffing and measuring success.

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK’s Director of Health Information, said: “We are very grateful for Mick’s support for our Screening Matters campaign. Screening enables cancer to be detected earlier or even prevented from developing. This is crucial because the earlier a cancer is detected, the better a person’s chance of survival.

“We welcome the introduction of the bowel screening programme as screening for bowel cancer can reduce the risk of cancer mortality by 16 per cent, or approximately one in six bowel cancer deaths.”

Screening Matters is a new campaign co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK in partnership with Beating Bowel Cancer, the Bobby Moore Fund, Bowel Cancer UK, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign, Breast Cancer Care and Jo’s Trust.



Notes:

For more information, please contact Cancer Research UK’s Public Affairs Officer for Wales Clare Tinniswood on 02920 568713 or Clare.Tinniswood@cancer.org.uk



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