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Bowel cancer testing - Source: ONE News -
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A new lobby group says the government is dragging its feet over
screening for New Zealand's most common cancer.
The patient-led charity, Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa, says a
recently announced pilot programme is too little and far too late
as thousands of lives are being risked.
Bowel cancer is New Zealand's biggest cancer killer, with around 1200 people succumbing to it each year.
Sarah Derrett, a public health specialist, heads the group and calls the disease New Zealand's cancer and sees herself as helping change that.
Dr Derrett says she is pleased the government has finally announced plans to fund a pilot screening programme for 60,000 from the end of next year but the group is frustrated full nationwide screening is still five to 10 years away and far from a certainty.
She says this means 6000 New Zealanders will have died before a decision is made about whether or not a national screening programme is needed.
The head of Australia's bowel cancer lobby group agrees, saying New Zealand is well behind the eight ball.
"Certainly 10 years behind Australia for instance and the UK is worrying," says Bowel Cancer Australia spokesman Julien Wiggins.
Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa says the government should be moving now to train the endoscopiosts needed in anticipation of a full national rollout.
But Health Minister Tony Ryall says the government has to be sure it is safe and the pilot is a must.
"This is the way that we've always rolled these programmes out in New Zealand and I think most people in the health system think we're doing a pretty good job getting it together this quick.
"You wouldn't want us investing tens of millions of dollars if we can't be sure we've got a programme that will work," says Ryall.
The awareness group says it will be following progress closely.
And as well as pushing for swifter government action, Beat Bowel Cancer says its main aims are to remove the stigma attached to this cancer.
It is calling for New Zealanders not to sit on the disease but to know the signs to look out for, discuss problems earlier with their GPs and become more educated and aware.
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