Vince Cable

The Borough is one of the most advanced in the country in pressing ahead with the screening of bowel cancer, now one of the main killers amongst cancer, especially amongst men.

This fact emerged from a debate on cancer screening in Parliament introduced by Vincent Cable MP, the third he has led on the subject, the previous two being in 2001 and 2003. Since then, breast cancer screening has been rolled out for older women aged 65-70; cervical cancer screen has been improved in accuracy with the new LBC (liquid based cytology) test and prevention has advanced with the vaccination of teenage girls; and bowel cancer screening has been introduced for the first time.

Vincent Cable has been campaigning with cancer charities for these improvements and, in particular, with Beating Bowel Cancer, which is based in St Margaret's. He said: "It is very gratifying to see improved screening for which I have campaigned becoming a reality. Many lives are being saved as a result of improvements in the NHS and better technology.

"There are several further measures which I now want to see. Younger women, from 40 to 50, should be included in the breast cancer screening. There is a need to identify and screen a 'missing generation' of young women between 16 and 30 who haven't had the vaccination which this year will become available to school girls to prevent the virus which causes cervical cancer and who haven't been screened. Bowel cancer screening is only just getting under way and needs promotion. And there are some cancers, like prostate, for which only a small minority are screened.

"When life saving drugs are needed for local residents and bowel cancer sufferers like Adam Griffin, it is worth remembering that with early screening cancers can be picked up early, saving lives and preventing difficult surgery."