BOWEL cancer is one of the most curable cancers – if it is caught early. Sufferers who go untested and undiagnosed are often left facing a death sentence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
South West Healthcare estimates more than 70 per cent of eligible people in the south-west are not taking up the offer of free bowel cancer screening tests.
The hospital is now leading a campaign to help turn the statistics around.
South West Healthcare bowel cancer prevention project manager Margie Morrice said the campaign would involve working with local medical experts and the community to help get the message across.
“We’re working on a range of activities around raising community awareness,” she said.
“Only a third of people being invited to scan are actually completing the test.”
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends free test kits to 50 to 74 year olds. The screening test can help detect small amounts of blood, which can be a sign of the early stages of cancer.
Dr Morrice said early detection was paramount when it came to bowel cancer. “The key reason for that is that it’s a very slow growing cancer,” she said.
“Another feature of bowel cancer is that symptoms from the cancer don’t appear until quite late.
“One of the barriers (to people testing) is that people around the age of 50 wouldn’t consider it a major concern for them.” This is despite research that shows the risk of bowel cancer increases markedly for people in their 50s.
Physician, Associate Professor Barry Morphett said 90 per cent of early-detected bowel cancers could be treated and cured.
“It is most unfortunate that locals aren’t screening because it costs nothing and, although completing the screening kit may seem unpleasant, it’s pain free and could save your life,” he said.
Dr Morrice said the Bowel Cancer Prevention Project was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services.
“It’s a pilot program running for two years with health professionals and in the community encouraging people to improve their screening health,” she said.
South West Healthcare primary, community and regional services director Craig Fraser has backed the campaign. “Huge numbers of people and their families continue to be touched by bowel cancer and many of these could have been prevented by people undertaking this simple test,” he said.
