Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Healy Eames for sharing time. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews. I thank the Irish Cancer Society for providing Members with such comprehensive information in respect of this matter. The poster contained in our information packs is extremely good.

The briefing material we received indicates that people are dying because they are embarrassed to take steps to ensure the health of their bowels. Bowel cancer is the most treatable of cancers but it is regrettable that for most people bowel cancer is only detected in the second, third or fourth stages, when the damage has been done. As a result, survival rates are not as high as should be the case.

A close friend of mine who was in her early 50s died from bowel cancer. She was one of the lucky ones because she had access to private health care and was a medic so she was aware of how to handle her routine screening. It is outrageous that people in this country do not have access to regular screening. There must be universal screening for colorectal cancer. It is extraordinary that bowel cancer is not diagnosed until the disease has reached the latter stages.

I worked in a doctor's surgery and am aware that people are extremely private when it comes to their health. People should not be afraid or embarrassed to consult their GP if they believe they are at risk. Not eating properly, being overweight and smoking contribute to poor health. People's lives are so stressful nowadays that they are obliged to eat on the run. In addition, they do not eat enough vegetables and they consume considerable quantities of processed food. These are strong contributory factors for bowel cancer.

When we are young, we believe that we will live forever and that our health is perfect. If the Government did more to highlight the need for annual screening in respect of bowel cancer, this would encourage people to take care of their health. There would not, as a result, be over 900 deaths from this disease each year, particularly if it was diagnosed in the first stage. It is imperative that, as is the case with cervical cancer, there be annual screening in respect of bowel cancer, which is the second most common form of the disease in Ireland. I ask the Minister of State to take on board the points I have made.