Galway City Councillor Alan Cheevers is campaigning for the the starting screening age for bowel cancer to be brought down to 50 years old.
The HSE’s BowelScreen programme is for routinely screening anyone aged 60 to 69, but Councillor Cheevers believes that should be expanded to 50-69 years old.
Cllr Cheevers, who was himself recently diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 52, met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin this week to raise awareness of his campaign.
“In the middle of September this year, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and as part of my diagnosis, I felt that I wanted to do something positive and that was to raise awareness and to make a representation to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, to reduce bowel screening from 60 to 69, down to 50 to 69.”
Councillor Cheevers said that it is important to lower the screening age, because he feels there is still a stigma among many men, especially in getting checked for cancer.
“If we can reduce the age profile, so that more people will get checked, we can work towards early detection and saving lives,” Alan Cheevers said.
The HSEs current advice for people under 60 who have a family history of bowel cancer, is to speak with their GP if they believe they have symptoms.
