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| Bowel cancer: Pioneering blood tests for patients in Swansea | Bowel cancer: Pioneering blood tests for patients in Swansea |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The blood tests are being welcomed by patients recovering from bowel cancer | The blood tests are being welcomed by patients recovering from bowel cancer |
| People who have recovered from bowel cancer and are on NHS waiting lists for colonoscopies will be the first in the UK to be offered pioneering blood tests. | People who have recovered from bowel cancer and are on NHS waiting lists for colonoscopies will be the first in the UK to be offered pioneering blood tests. |
| Scientists will offer 200 people in Swansea the test to check the disease has not returned. | Scientists will offer 200 people in Swansea the test to check the disease has not returned. |
| Leading cancer charities have called the development a "positive step" for those waiting for check-ups. | Leading cancer charities have called the development a "positive step" for those waiting for check-ups. |
| The rollout will be funded by Wales-based Moondance Cancer Initiative. | |
| Blood test detects most early bowel cancer - trial | Blood test detects most early bowel cancer - trial |
| Welsh island has one of the world's darkest skies | Welsh island has one of the world's darkest skies |
| 'I was going to the toilet up to 30 times a day' | 'I was going to the toilet up to 30 times a day' |
| Thousands of people across Wales are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. | Thousands of people across Wales are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. |
| Those who are treated and survive the disease are monitored through regular scans or colonoscopies. | Those who are treated and survive the disease are monitored through regular scans or colonoscopies. |
| 'Absolutely devastated' | 'Absolutely devastated' |
| Prof Dean Harris, a colorectal surgeon at Swansea's Singleton hospital, hopes the blood test can be a cheap and an easy alternative for those who are waiting. | Prof Dean Harris, a colorectal surgeon at Swansea's Singleton hospital, hopes the blood test can be a cheap and an easy alternative for those who are waiting. |
| "It has only really been possible to do colonoscopies on patients who are suspected of having cancer - those that have come through the GP route, the urgent suspected cancer pathway," he said. | "It has only really been possible to do colonoscopies on patients who are suspected of having cancer - those that have come through the GP route, the urgent suspected cancer pathway," he said. |
| "There are about 4,000 patients in Swansea Bay alone who have been waiting years for a follow-up colonoscopy after they've had bowel cancer or polyps removed. | "There are about 4,000 patients in Swansea Bay alone who have been waiting years for a follow-up colonoscopy after they've had bowel cancer or polyps removed. |
| "Guidelines say they need to have a check colonoscopy done, sometimes a year later, sometimes three years later. | "Guidelines say they need to have a check colonoscopy done, sometimes a year later, sometimes three years later. |
| "But all that activity stopped in the pandemic, and now there's a huge backlog, not just in Swansea, but everywhere in Wales and the UK. | "But all that activity stopped in the pandemic, and now there's a huge backlog, not just in Swansea, but everywhere in Wales and the UK. |
| Tremors from Wales earthquake felt 100 miles away | Tremors from Wales earthquake felt 100 miles away |
| Women's symptoms ignored by GPs - health group | Women's symptoms ignored by GPs - health group |
| Four-day work week trial urged for public services | Four-day work week trial urged for public services |
| "These patients still can't get appointments unless they are developing symptoms and then they get expedited. | "These patients still can't get appointments unless they are developing symptoms and then they get expedited. |
| "And we know that there are people forming cancers while they are on the waiting list and coming to harm. | "And we know that there are people forming cancers while they are on the waiting list and coming to harm. |
| "We want to help prioritise which of those patients need to be bumped up the list to have their test done soonest because they're more likely to have a cancer or a polyp present, based on having the blood test done." | "We want to help prioritise which of those patients need to be bumped up the list to have their test done soonest because they're more likely to have a cancer or a polyp present, based on having the blood test done." |
| The 200 patients chosen will be invited over the next few months. | The 200 patients chosen will be invited over the next few months. |
| If the tests are effective, the hope is that the project can be developed elsewhere in Wales - a move welcomed by cancer patients and cancer charities. | If the tests are effective, the hope is that the project can be developed elsewhere in Wales - a move welcomed by cancer patients and cancer charities. |
| Paul Scanlon, a recent cancer patient from Cardiff said anything which can save lives and make check-ups easier is a welcome development. | Paul Scanlon, a recent cancer patient from Cardiff said anything which can save lives and make check-ups easier is a welcome development. |
| Paul Scanlon has had a stoma formed since he was diagnosed with bowel cancer | Paul Scanlon has had a stoma formed since he was diagnosed with bowel cancer |
| The 53-year-old was training for the London Marathon when he spotted blood in his poo. | The 53-year-old was training for the London Marathon when he spotted blood in his poo. |
| After months of "putting off going to the doctor" and "chronic back pain", he quickly realised something was not right. | After months of "putting off going to the doctor" and "chronic back pain", he quickly realised something was not right. |
| "Cancer didn't even enter my head," he said. | "Cancer didn't even enter my head," he said. |
| In April 2022, an endoscopy confirmed he was living with two large tumours and had stage three bowel cancer. | In April 2022, an endoscopy confirmed he was living with two large tumours and had stage three bowel cancer. |
| "I was absolutely devastated," he said, adding the following months were "hell" for him and his family. | "I was absolutely devastated," he said, adding the following months were "hell" for him and his family. |
| Mr Scanlon, who will still need scans every six months for the next five years, said he welcomes any scientific developments to improve lives and reduce anxiety for survivors. | Mr Scanlon, who will still need scans every six months for the next five years, said he welcomes any scientific developments to improve lives and reduce anxiety for survivors. |
| But Lowri Griffiths from cancer charity Tenovus, said: "People are reluctant to come forward because of the nature of the colonoscopy." | But Lowri Griffiths from cancer charity Tenovus, said: "People are reluctant to come forward because of the nature of the colonoscopy." |
| Research into the tests was led by Swansea University with funding from Cancer Research Wales. | |
| The Welsh government has set out a national endoscopy programme to "prioritise people waiting", adding that they are also doing broader work such as "training more clinicians that can perform endoscopy". | The Welsh government has set out a national endoscopy programme to "prioritise people waiting", adding that they are also doing broader work such as "training more clinicians that can perform endoscopy". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Swansea Bay University Health Board | Swansea Bay University Health Board |
| Swansea University | Swansea University |
| Swansea | Swansea |
| Bowel cancer | Bowel cancer |
| NHS Wales | NHS Wales |
| Cancer | Cancer |