475 diagnosed with bowel cancer

ALMOST 500 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer across Londonderry, Limavady and Strabane between 2005 and 2009, according to fresh figures released by the Health Minister Edwin Poots.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Jun 2012, 16:29 BST

There were 291 new cases of colorectal cancer in Londonderry; 108 new cases in Strabane; and 76 new cases in Limavady over the five year period.

The Minister provided the information in response to a query from East Londonderry MLA David McClarty.

It follows a recent Sentinel report which showed how every single community in Londonderry has suffered cancer deaths in double figures since 2007. In some areas of the city at least 30 people have died from cancer in the last five years.

Between 2008 and 2010 575 people (roughly one in 188) died from cancer in Londonderry. And between 2007 and 2009 2,212 (one in 50) were diagnosed with the illness in the city.