The NHS in Wales is failing to follow NICE guidelines to test all bowel cancer patients for Lynch syndrome, according to charity Bowel Cancer UK.
Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that increases the lifetime risk of bowel cancer to up to 80%, as well as many other cancers.
According to the charity it costs the NHS £200 to carry out the simple life-saving test per patient.
Tracy Smith from Castell Maen, Penrhos, Caerphilly, was diagnosed with bowel cancer during her third pregnancy when she was 33-years old.
“I didn’t really have any symptoms of bowel cancer. I was tired all the time, but at the time I was a busy mum of three young children, I worked 50-60 hours a week and my husband was away for work for half the year.
“A few months after my diagnosis I was tested for Lynch syndrome and the results came back positive. My family were then tested,” 46-year-old Tracy said.
“My dad has Lynch syndrome, his brothers and sisters all have it too. Their mum had Lynch syndrome. They all haven’t had bowel cancer. My auntie’s son had Lynch syndrome and he died from bowel cancer years before I was diagnosed.
“My sisters have Lynch syndrome, one of them died from bowel cancer at 23-years old at around the same time I was diagnosed.
“My middle sister has two children, and one of them has been diagnosed with Lynch syndrome. I have three children, two of them are old enough to be tested for Lynch syndrome and one of them has it.
“My other son is 16-years old now and will have the test shortly. My son who has Lynch syndrome has two young children, and when they’re older they’ll be tested too.”
A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “In line with other health boards in Wales, patients with colorectal cancer treated within the health board may be tested for Lynch Syndrome/Microsatellite instability.
“At present the agreed criteria is to test patients who are 50 or under. Patients who are older than 50 may still be tested if there is a significant family history or if there is a clinical reason to test.
“This has been agreed within South Wales due to the limited availability of the resources required to perform the testing, and is not a decision that the health board has made in isolation.”
Lowri Griffiths, Head of Wales for Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Wales is failing to systematically test bowel cancer patients for this devastating condition.
“The price of testing for Lynch syndrome is peanuts, only £200 per patient. “Health boards in Wales need to loosen the purse strings as the cost of testing for the genetic condition far outweighs the price of treating bowel cancer patients.
“Until these issues are addressed generations of families will continue to be devastated by cancer and lives will be needlessly lost.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Currently, testing is available for patients at the highest risk of Lynch syndrome and we are working with experts from the Wales Cancer Network to develop proposals to widen access.”
In Wales, bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer and fourth most common cancer with 2,200 people diagnosed each year.
More proof that Welsh Labour the party to save the NHS is failing the NHS it’s time to change and put a party in power that will help the NHS
Welsh Labour are an expensive shambles that we can without
The problem we have is that people vote Labour because past family members voted Labour, no one reads their policies. Labour has changed a lot over the last few years sometimes good sometimes bad. Sadly now we have the hard looney left in charge, which is no good for anyone.