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Written question asked by Helen Hayes (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 July 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 September 2023. It was answered by Will Quince (Conservative) on Monday, 4 September 2023 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Bowel Cancer: Young People

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for NHS (a) testing and (b) screening programmes of increases in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and BRAF mutation in younger people.

Answer

No assessment has been made.

The UK National Screening committee (UK NSC) has not considered the BRAF mutation as part of the bowel cancer screening programme. However, the UK NSC remains open to any suggestions that could improve screening programmes and these can be submitted through the UK NSC website during their three-month annual call for topics.

Improving referral rates are an essential part of delivering our goal to improve cancer survival rates and show that our efforts to encourage people to come forward, including the ‘Help Us Help You’ campaign, are working. For bowel cancer, the campaign urged people to take up the new home testing kit and have extended the screening offer to those aged 50-74 to ensure more people are diagnosed with bowel cancer at the earliest stage.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
195204
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Young people Screening Bowel cancer
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk