Bowel Cancer UK conducts two free Colorectal Cancer Study Days for healthcare professionals

The UK’s leading bowel cancer research charity, Bowel Cancer UK, is holding two Colorectal Cancer Study Days, to provide healthcare professionals with an essential update in prevention, screening, early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer.

The two events, which are free to attend, will be held at the Hilton Gateshead in Newcastle on 6 October and the All Nations Centre in Cardiff on 9 November 2016.

The speakers at both events will include a number of leading medical experts. In Newcastle on 6 October, Professor Stephen Halloran will provide an update on the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and the role of Bowel Scope and the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). Professor Halloran is a member of the UK Bowel Cancer Screening Advisory Committee and advisor on population-based colorectal cancer screening to many international government health organisations. He developed and directed the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) Southern Hub from its inception in 2006 until his retirement in March 2015. Other presentations will include advances in chemotherapy, liver resection for metastases and genetic conditions and management of people at higher risk of colorectal cancer.

At the Bowel Cancer UK Cardiff Study Day, Hayley Heard, who is Head of Programme at Bowel Screening Wales, will provide an update on the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Other speakers will include Karen Bailey, Principal Genetic Counsellor, All Wales Medical Genetics Service, Stephen Fenwick, Consultant Hepatobiliary and General Surgeon, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool and Tim Iveson, Consultant Medical Oncologist, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Ingrid Spickett, Head of Health Information for Bowel Cancer UK, said:

The Study Days which we have run in recent years have gained an excellent reputation among healthcare professionals and we’re delighted to offer them again this year. As the leading bowel cancer research charity, a key part of our work is providing expert information and training about bowel cancer. Featuring a programme of renowned expert speakers, the Study Days aim to provide attendees with an update on colorectal cancer which will inform and influence their day-to-day practice and future perspective of the disease.

Colorectal or bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK with 16,200 people dying from the disease every year. However, bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stage will survive bowel cancer. However, this drops significantly as the disease develops.