Change to bowel screening program will save lives, Cancer Council Victoria says
People from Victoria’s Vietnamese community aged 45-49 are reminded to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and order the free bowel screening test.
Cancer Council Victoria is asking people from Victoria’s Vietnamese community who are aged 45-49 to order a free bowel screening kit, after a change to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
From July 1, Victorians aged 45-49 can now order a free bowel screening test kit. They will then get a test kit in the mail every two years after their first test.
Latest Victorian Cancer Registry data shows that 72 Victorian men and 73 Victorian women aged 45-49 were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 20221. A total of 3,504 Victorians were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022.
Bowel screening can save lives, but data shows not enough people are doing this important bowel screening test.
Cancer Council Victoria research found that some people from Victoria’s Vietnamese community don’t do this test because they don’t know about bowel cancer, or because they have no symptoms and don’t think they need to do the test.
Symptoms of bowel cancer can be blood in your poo or in the toilet bowl, feeling tired or losing weight without a reason, and stomach pain. If you notice any bowel cancer symptoms, it is important that you speak to your doctor.
Victorian Doctor Nguyet Thai said people from Victoria’s Vietnamese community who were aged 45 to 74 needed to do bowel screening to lower their risk of cancer.
“Bowel screening is really important for your health. We want everyone who gets the free test in the mail to do it straight away. No matter if you feel healthy, this test can save your life”, Dr Thai said.
Cancer Council Victoria’s Head of Prevention and Adjunct Associate Professor Craig Sinclair said the age change would allow more people to do bowel screening. “Bowel cancer is Victoria’s second most common cause of cancer death in men and the third most common cause of cancer death in women. But it can also be prevented by doing the free at-home bowel screening test”, he said.
“More than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be treated if found early. We want everyone to know about this test and ask that you speak to your friends and family so they can also protect their health against bowel cancer”.
People aged 50-74 will still get a kit in the mail every two years. So, if you’re aged 45- 74, take the free bowel cancer screening test every two years.
To learn more about bowel screening, head to cancervic.org.au/bowel. To order a bowel screening test kit, visit ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or call the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.
Find in-language information about bowel screening for Vietnamese-speaking communities on our website: cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
About Cancer Council Victoria
Cancer Council Victoria is a non-profit cancer organisation dedicated to world-leading cancer research, prevention, and support since our establishment in 1936. Our mission is to prevent cancer, empower patients and save lives. Find out more at www.cancervic.org.au
