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1st September 2021

DATA-CAN patient member to join NHS bowel cancer screening committee

John Barnes to join Public Health England’s Bowel Cancer Screening Research Advisory Committee.

John Barnes, bowel cancer survivor and member of DATA-CAN’s patient and public involvement and engagement group, has been selected to join Public Health England’s Bowel Cancer Screening Research Advisory Committee as a lay member.

After being diagnosed with bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) in 2000, John’s aim is to improve early diagnosis through better screening and early intervention and referral from GPs.

The Bowel Cancer Research Advisory Committee reviews applications for research around bowel cancer screening. It considers the risks and benefits of each research proposal for the bowel cancer screening programme and participants, as well as the public interest in carrying out the study.

John says, “I am delighted and proud to have been selected to join the NHS bowel cancer screening research advisory committee.  

“My experience with DATA-CAN will be very helpful to this new role as data is the key by which the direction of travel for future screening should be determined.

“I hope to be able to make a contribution to the future of bowel screening in the UK. I would love to see the UK regarded as having one of the leading colorectal screening services.

“I feel that I am one of the lucky ones. My personal aim is to help take the luck element out of the diagnosis and treatment of this deadly disease.”

In addition to being a member of the DATA-CAN PPIE Group, John is also a patient advocate for:

Both research projects have potential for improving screening in the future by looking at the microbiome signatures and identifying shed cancer DNA. He is also part of the Continuum Life Sciences project on long term survival from cancer.

I feel that I am one of the lucky ones. My personal aim is to help take the luck element out of the diagnosis and treatment of this deadly disease.

John Barnes