Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State. There has been a certain questioning and criticism of the very existence of the Seanad in recent weeks. I think today is an example of the sort of work that can take place and that can give the benefits to the nation that might not otherwise have taken place. Today's debate is a very good example of that. Senator Feeney has spoken about education. There is little doubt that having this debate will not achieve what we are setting out to do unless we manage to get somewhere further with it.

The debate has been very useful, and it was interesting to hear Senator Fitzgerald's words as well. I was impressed with Senator Feeney's words when she pointed out she was glad to see me come in. Senator Buttimer was not here at the time, and other than the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I was the only man here. What Senator Feeney said had not dawned on me before, but maybe men are just unwilling to discuss things and unwilling to open their minds, their thoughts and their words to such a threat. Today's debate is another step along the way in what the Irish Cancer Society has managed to achieve, by putting this on the agenda.

All of us know somebody who has suffered from cancer. All of us probably know somebody who has suffered from bowel cancer. Senator Fitzgerald touched on the lack of awareness of how important it is, that it is treatable and we can do something about it. From that point of view, I congratulate the Irish Cancer Society for putting it high on the agenda, and for putting it on the agenda here today. I welcome the launch of its campaign to increase awareness of bowel cancer signs and symptoms, as well as the importance of early detection. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Ireland. Every year, 2,000 cases are diagnosed and 900 people die from the disease. The campaign is concentrating on the message that discovering the cancer early makes all the difference.

More than 50% of patients in Ireland are diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer with a very poor survival rate. We as a nation can do something about that. The Irish Cancer Society states that 36% of people cannot name one sign or symptom of bowel cancer, with one quarter not knowing what factors might increase their risk of developing the disease. If only we could make sure that the whole nation was able to hear this debate, more people would be educated about this issue.

The Minister for Health and Children recently told the Joint Committee on Health and Children that no funding has yet been allocated to a national colorectal screening programme. She stated that she would consider the introduction of such a programme and the resources needed when she receives the assessment. Given the scale of the problem we have, that is not good enough. There should be a programme to help those most at risk from the disease, namely, those over 50. I support the call of the Irish Cancer Society for the roll out of a free national bowel cancer screening programme for everybody over 50. Screening saves lives and that is the important thing. There is evidence to show that a bowel cancer screening programme would start to save lives immediately. It is not a long-term thing and is also the least expensive of all the screening programmes. It is estimated to pay for itself in a period of five years. The financial crisis is putting everything under threat, but doing away with the €1 million set aside to begin a national screening programme would be a major step backwards.

Recently I read an article in The Sunday Business Post of the case of a bowel cancer patient, Mr. Roddy Carter from Dublin, who was diagnosed with late stage bowel cancer after presenting with pains at St. Vincent's Hospital emergency department. He had been on the waiting list at Tallaght Hospital for a colonoscopy for a year. Each time he inquired about the procedure, he was told he would just have to wait. Such was the seriousness of his condition, he was operated on within three days of his visit to St. Vincent's Hospital. He needed radical surgery, and is now receiving radiation therapy as a follow up. If he had not taken the initiative and gone to the emergency ward in St. Vincent's Hospital, he would probably still be waiting for a colonoscopy in Tallaght Hospital.

Cases like these highlight the need for the introduction of a bowel cancer screening system for everybody over 50. Ireland's cancer survival rates are way behind those of our western European neighbours. Introducing the screening programme would go a long way to help improve the terrible record we have when it comes to cancer survival. Let me touch on one or two of the figures. A total of 25% of people do not know the factors which might increase their risk of developing bowel cancer, while 40% believe that people under 50 years of age are most at risk of developing bowel cancer. In fact, 90% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2005 were over 50. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland. In 2005, 2,184 new cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed, and 924 people died from the disease. Over 50% of patients in Ireland are diagnosed with stage three or stage four bowel cancer, the most advanced stages that have very poor survival rates. The risk factors are age, family history, abnormal growth of tissue in the lining of the bowel, diet and obesity. I thank Senator Feeney for being so blunt with words that I avoided when I was preparing my thoughts. The most common symptoms of the disease are a change in bowel habits lasting more than a month, rectal bleeding, constipation and the other things she talked about.

We can do something about this, but only if we are educated and determined to let it be known that this is solvable. We need to put all our thoughts and actions together on this. This debate has given us food for though and fuel for action. We know what we can do, so let us make sure we do it.