Colorectal cancer rates underlined

THE South’s reputation for having one of the highest colorectal cancer rates in New Zealand has been confirmed by a newly issued Ministry of Health report.

The bowel cancer quality improvement report, released yesterday, draws on statistics from 201316, predating the ongoing introduction of bowel cancer screening across New Zealand.

When the Southern District Health Board joined the screening programme last year, it was said the region — with a high proportion in its population being those most susceptible to the disease, European males over 60 — had higher rates of the disease than most centres.

The SDHB rated third out of 20 DHBs in the 201316 statistics for cases of bowel, colon and rectal cancer.

Only Canterbury and Waitemata, which started trialling bowel cancer screening during this period, recorded more cases.

As the screening programme is implemented, the SDHB’s statistics are expected to rise.

‘‘It has long been established that incidence of bowel cancer in the South Island of New Zealand and in particular the Southern DHB district is among the highest in the world and the figures in the report provide further evidence of this,’’ SDHB surgical services and radiology general manager Janine Cochrane said.

‘‘The introduction of the bowel screening programme in Southern DHB is therefore highly significant.’’

In the SDHB area, more bowel cancer patients needed urgent surgery — 202 — than any other DHB.

That was 28.1% of patients — the national average is 19.6%.

The ministry hoped more widespread screening would see those figures improve, especially for Maori and Pacific Island people.

Patient deaths within 90 days of surgery for Southern — 5% — were midrange among DHBs.

The report said nationally postoperative mortality rates were ‘‘acceptable’’, but wide variation between DHBs needed investigation.

‘‘While it is too early to conclude the impact that bowel screening has at Southern compared to other areas in New Zealand, this report provides a good description and context on which bowel screening has been implemented,’’ Ms Cochrane said.