Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer. It kills more people in NSW than prostate cancer, breast cancer or melanoma. Despite this, currently only around 40% of eligible people take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
The Program is an Australian Government initiative that provides free bowel cancer screening tests to eligible people aged 45–to74 every two years. Bowel cancer screening can detect cancers at an earlier stage when treatment can be more successful, and if detected early, bowel cancer can be successfully treated in more than 90% of cases.
Anyone can get bowel cancer, but the risk of bowel cancer is higher if you:
- are aged 45 years and over
- have an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis
- have previously had special types of polyps, called adenomas, in the bowel
- have a strong family history of bowel cancer or polyps.
Bowel cancer can develop without any symptoms. The test detects microscopic amounts of blood in the bowel motion, which can be a sign of bowel cancer.
The bowel cancer screening test is easy-to-do and can be completed in the comfort of your own home. Inside the kit there are easy to follow steps.
How Do you do the Test ?
Collect samples of your bowel motions (poo): The test kit comes with an instruction sheet that explains how to do this. Samples should be collected from different bowel motions (poos), with time between as close together as possible, so either on the same day or within three days of taking the first sample.
Send the samples for testing: Once you have collected your samples, put them in the reply paid envelope together with your participant details form, and take the envelope (with completed samples and paperwork inside) to the Pathology Department at NIHRACS on a MONDAY or TUESDAY morning to send away to the testing laboratory on your behalf.
Get the results: The samples are processed and the results are sent to you, and your nominated doctor or health service within two weeks.
Repeat testing when required or two yearly.
There are a number of ways to reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer, including:
- do the test every two years between the ages of 45–to74
- quit smoking
- reduce alcohol consumption
- maintain a healthy body weight
- be active and sit less
- eat a healthy diet.
Anyone with concerns about their risk of developing bowel cancer should talk to their doctor, please call the GP Clinic on 24134 for an appointment.