Our health back in our hands... (February 2011)
Government offloads responsibility for bowel cancer screening
Australians are being urged to take control of their health and organise their own bowel cancer screening since the Federal Government allowed the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to lapse at the end of last year.
The interim program, estimated to have saved about 11,000 lives since 2006, offered free, one-off screening to people turning 50, 55 or 65 years of age between January 2008 and December 2010.
To help Australians step-up to the challenge of organising their own screening, Bowel Cancer Australia is supporting the inaugural FOB Test Friday on 25 February, an initiative of Let’s Beat Bowel Cancer.
Mr Julien Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer of Bowel Cancer Australia, said FOB Test Friday is a reminder to men and women to take action against bowel cancer.
“In the absence of any Government screening program for a cancer that claims one Australian life every two hours, we have no choice but to be proactive about our own health and organise a FOB (Faecal Occult Blood) test.
“We had the promise of a more comprehensive screening program from this Government but instead, Australians have been left with nothing.
“If you were among the relatively few Australians who received the NBCSP test kit but haven’t completed it yet, make 25 February your FOB Test day too,” said Mr Wiggins.
Bowel cancer affects men and women equally with the risk increasing with age.
Colorectal surgeons, Associate Professor Graham Newstead AM, Bowel Cancer Australia and Emeritus Professor Adrian Polglase, Let’s Beat Bowel Cancer have united in their call to encourage people 50 years and over to participate in FOB Test Friday, particularly if they are not already being screened regularly for bowel cancer.
“However, as bowel cancer affects all ages and this is a simple, pain-free test, there’s good reason for those under 50 to take the test too,” said A/Prof Newstead. “Survival rates are around 90% for people treated early, so why wouldn’t you take the test?”
To join in with FOB Test Friday, simply purchase a test kit for $36.35 (or $39.95 online), follow the instructions and send in your sample. The price of the kit includes postage costs and the pathology fee. Results are returned to you and your nominated GP within a few weeks.
FOB tests can be purchased via:
• Participating pharmacies (pharmacy finder at www.bowelscreenaustralia.org)
• Phoning 1800 555 494
• Online at www.bowelcanceraustralia.org
Medicare or private health fund rebates may apply in some cases so check with your fund first and keep your receipts.
“The kits are reliable, easy-to-use indicators of invisible bleeding from the bowel. The presence of invisible blood may be due to conditions other than cancer, such as polyps, haemorrhoids or inflammation of the bowel. However, the cause of bleeding needs to be investigated to rule out something more sinister,” said A/Prof Newstead.
“People at higher risk of bowel cancer such as those with symptoms (e.g. blood in the stool, a recent and persistent change in bowel habits) or a family history of bowel cancer, should consult their doctor in the first instance,” he added.
Mr Wiggins said Bowel Cancer Australia is committed to keeping up the pressure on the Federal Government for a new National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
“For now, our health is in our own hands,” he added.
NB – Bowel Cancer Australia does not receive a financial benefit from the sale of the FOB Test kits.
(1) A/Prof Graham Newstead AM is Chairman of the Bowel Cancer Foundation (Bowel Cancer Australia’s Awareness Advisory Board). On 1 January 2011, Bowel Cancer Australia and the Bowel Cancer Foundation merged their respective awareness activities to amplify messages about bowel cancer awareness and education.
