Bowel Cancer Programme

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second biggest cancer killer in Wales. Every year more than 2,200 people across Wales are diagnosed with the disease and over 900 people die.

Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage. Late diagnosis significantly reduces the chance of successful treatment: statistically only 8% of patients diagnosed at advanced stage 4 will be alive five years after diagnosis.

Despite incidence rates remaining stable for 25 years, survival for people diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK is poorer than comparable countries. UK statistics indicate that Wales has the lowest relative five-year survival rate, in comparison to the other UK nations.

Overseen by Prof Jared Torkington, our Bowel Cancer Programme recognises that radical new approaches are needed to achieve a step change in outcomes. Pivotal to the aims of the programme is the permission to innovate, to test ideas and approaches.

The programme provides a space outside traditional organisational structures, where key partners can work closely in creative ways at an accelerated pace.