Cancer Council is urging more eligible Australians to participate in the National Bowel Screening Program following the release of a new Government report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, showing little increase in screening uptake.
The latest 2016/17 data shows that men in particular are lax when it comes to getting checked, with 39 per cent of males aged 50 – 74 taking part in the program, compared to 43 per cent of women.
The report comes a week after the announcement of a $10 million Commonwealth grant to Cancer Council Australia to run a national mass media campaign to encourage more Australians to screen for bowel cancer with the simple home test that could save their life.
Cancer Council Australia chief executive Professor Sanchia Aranda said the findings of the report were concerning given bowel cancer screening can be lifesaving.
“Doing your bowel screening test is crucial, particularly as bowel cancer can be a silent killer often with no early warning signs, however 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early,” she said.
“We would like to see participation rates increase across the board as Australians aged over 50 are at a higher risk of bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is more common in men, with 1 in 11 chance of being diagnosed by the age of 85.
“Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer, yet Cancer Council research has shown that if participation rates increased to just 6 in 10, from the current 4 in 10, around 84,000 lives could be saved in the next twenty years.
“The good thing about this test is people can do it at home, All you need is the free test kit, a fridge to store the results, a mailbox to put it in and a GP to nominate if your results need follow-up.”
To find out more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program go to www.cancerscreening.gov.au or call 1800 118 868.
If you would like to access Cancer Council WA services and support please call 13 11 20.
Melissa Pickering is the Cancer Council WA regional education officer for the Wheatbelt.
