Data released by the Victorian Cancer Registry this week showed bowel cancer was the third most common new cancer type in 2015 after breast and prostate cancer, with 3810 cases.

A simple test under the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program can pick up small amounts of blood that may indicate further checks for bowel cancer are needed, however, across the state only 39 per cent of people sent the at-home kits participate.

Deakin University gastroenterologist Barry Morphett said fear and denial played a big role in deterring people from taking the test, however, he encouraged people to participate.

“If you find a cancer and it’s early stage then your chances of survival are over 90 per cent,” Dr Morphett said.

“We need to change the community perception from it being a negative to something you should embrace as you turn 50 because from a participant level you’ve got everything to gain and having a colonoscopy or a test is really nothing.”

“The harsh reality of life is if you’ve got a bowel cancer or a polyp and you ignore it, it’s going to catch up with you sooner or later.”

Under the screening program, people from age 50 to 74 are sent a free kit at home that allows them to return a feacal sample back to be tested.

South West Healthcare’s Dr Margie Morrice manages a trial bowel cancer prevention project that aims to boost participation in the program.

Dr Morrice pointed out that during the first half of 2016, Warrnambool had a participation rate of 44 per cent.

However, she said more work was needed to reach the goal of a 50 per cent participation rate by 2021.

“It’s one of the most preventable cancers,” she said.

The data also showed the bowel cancer incidence in the Warrnambool region between 2005 to 2014 was more than 15 per cent above the state average.