Bowel cancer screening programme expanded in Northern Ireland

Dr Jonny Dillon, who was 49 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2024, said he was “just delighted” by the announcement, but added that it “needs to go a lot further”.

As a GP, he said he is seeing an increasing number of younger people presenting with bowel cancer.

“The decision to extend bowel screening will assist in detecting those patients at a much earlier stage, requiring less treatment and much better survival rates with the potential to save many lives.

“It is something many of us have been pushing for many years.”

Dillon said he needed extensive surgery to remove a 7cm tumour, but has since made a “great recovery” and returned to work following treatment.

“This diagnosis was devastating for myself and my family, any delay could have resulted in a poor outcome,” he said.

“Early screening and intervention for this increasingly common cancer will save thousands of lives in Northern Ireland and I am eternally greatly to all those who have campaigned tirelessly to make this long overdue change.”

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said she was “delighted” at the expansion, adding that it is a “significant step towards improving bowel cancer survival in Northern Ireland”.

“It will give thousands more people the opportunity to take part in screening, helping to find more cancers earlier when the disease is easier to treat and the chances of survival are higher.”