http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=703497

By Nigel Gould
22 August 2006

One of Ulster's top cancer experts has said that the provision of a bowel
screening programme would save more lives than two drugs hailed as a huge
advance in treating the disease.

Dr Martin Eatock's comments follow an initial ruling by the National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that Avastin and
Erbitux were not cost-effective in treating advanced bowel cancer.

The therapies have been shown to extend average survival by five months
and work by targeting cancer cells.

Charity Beating Bowel Cancer branded the decision a "scandal" and a
"backward step" while Bowel Cancer UK called for an urgent Government
review.

The Ulster Cancer Foundation registered its "extreme disappointment" but
also said a bowel screening programme should be provided across the
province.

Dr Eatock, a consultant medical oncologist at Belfast City Hospital, said
if a choice had to be made between the drugs and a screening programme,
the latter would "save more lives".

"The drugs have shown a five-month improvement to those with incurable
bowel cancer," he said. "Clinically they have very significant benefits.
But they do have side-effects and won't be suitable for everyone.

"The problem too is that you are dealing with a limited budget. It would
cost £2 million a year alone to buy Avastin for Northern Ireland.

"A screening programme would cost a lot more money but it will save lives.

"With these drugs you will prolong lives for a few months.

"These are difficult decisions to make. It would be inappropriate to
launch a campaign when we are working with a limited budget. There has to
be fairness across the board."

NICE's decision could be subject to appeal.

Arlene Spiers, Chief Executive, UCF said: "We do not believe that
beneficial drugs should be withheld due to cost.

"It's placing patients and their families under additional stress when
they know that there is a beneficial treatment and they are denied access
to it. To help with early diagnosis of the disease, UCF is calling for a
national screening programme to be introduced in Northern Ireland.

"This screening programme is vital for people in Northern Ireland. People
often visit their doctors when their symptoms are well-developed but the
earlier the condition can be diagnosed, then the better the prognosis.

"Early diagnosis also means that the treatment required is less difficult
and disruptive."

Bowel or colorectal cancer, is Ulster's second most commonly diagnosed
cancer, with around 1,000 cases diagnosed each year, and around 320
deaths. It mainly occurs in the over-50s.

Survival rates vary dramatically, depending on the stage that the
diagnosis is made.

It is understood the new drugs would benefit around 100 patients across
Northern Ireland with advanced bowel cancer.

Erbitux, which costs around £700 a week, can shrink tumours, while Avastin
costs £20,000 a year. Neither drug is a cure.