Stephen Williams MP Spreads the Word that Screening Matters

4.22.00pm GMT Thu 28th Feb 2008

Stephen Williams MP pledged to support Cancer Research UK's new Screening Matters campaign at a special parliamentary event.

The campaign aims to highlight the importance of the three NHS cancer screening programmes for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

During the event, the Bristol West MP discussed a Cancer Research UK survey* of more than 4,150 people which revealed that only 16 per cent could correctly identify breast, cervical and bowel cancers as the three cancers currently screened for by the NHS.

Stephen Williams MP said: "I am concerned that many people are unaware of all three of the cancer screening programmes that are available. Studies have demonstrated that our breast, cervical and now also bowel cancer screening are effective and really do save lives. But we could save even more if people attended when invited.

"I have pledged my support for Cancer Research UK's Screening Matters campaign which nearly 100,000 people have signed up to so far. I am encouraging local people to get involved too by signing their own pledge at www.cancercampaigns.org.uk."

Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's Director of Health Information, said: "We are very grateful for Stephen Williams' 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.

"There is high recognition amongst women of the breast screening programme with 94 per cent of women being aware of breast screening, and six in 10 women know about cervical screening. At the moment only one in four people are aware about bowel cancer screening, and as this screening programme is rolling out across England it is vital that 60-69-year-olds know they are able to access this type of screening. I have supported bowel screening for many years because of a family history of the disease."

The Screening Matters campaign highlights the particular areas where Cancer Research UK would like the Government to take most urgent action on, seeking commitments to:

1. Screen at least three million more people 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.

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.