A national roll-out of a life-saving bowel cancer detection initiative is being heavily invested by the federal government this year.
Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia. A total of 17,000 people are diagnosed each year.
But early detection is key, and if cancerous cells are found before it is too late for treatment to be effective, health outcomes dramatically improve.
The free home test kit contains a full instruction booklet, a zip-lock bag, two flushable collection sheets, two sampling sticks and sterile collection tubes, two identification stickers for the collection tubes, two transportation tubes, and a prepaid envelope and checklist with which to return samples.
The government is pouring $10 million in an advertising blitz to boost participation in the free and life-saving National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Cancer Council Australia will use TV, radio, social media and outdoor advertising throughout this year to help people better understand the benefits of bowel cancer screening and encourage more people to participate in a program that could save their life.
The campaign aims to create awareness about the benefits of early detection, prompt diagnosis and treatment.
This is the largest single investment in a national cancer-specific mass media campaign.
From age 50, the risk of bowel cancer increases, with one in 11 men, and one in 15 women, developing bowel cancer before the age of 85. Symptoms can often be silent.
Research shows that 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated through early detection.
Of the 3.2 million people invited to screen between January 2015 and December 2016 , 41 per cent participated in the program. This is a two per cent increase in the previous screening period.
Independent modelling by Cancer Council NSW shows that 59,000 lives will be saved between 2015 and 2040 at current rates of participation.
Increasing participation rates to 60 per cent could save more than 83,000 lives by 2040.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program was introduced by the Howard government with initial funding in 2005-06, following three successful localised pilot projects and a plan to test national feasibility through an incremental roll-out.
In the 2014–15 budget the government invested $95.9 million to fast track the expansion of the program.
By the end of 2019 all Australians aged 50 to 74 will be invited to screen.
