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Image used for the National Bowel Cancer Program
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is currently being implemented nationally to help detect bowel cancer early and reduce the number of Australians who die each year from the disease.
The Australian Government recently announced an ongoing commitment to the Program, with all Australians turning 50, 55 or 65 years eligible to be invited to participate in screening for bowel cancer.
Under the Program, eligible people will be sent a bowel cancer screening kit by mail containing a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), a simple test that can be completed in the privacy of your own home.
The test is quick and easy and involves taking a small sample from two bowel motions which you then send to the laboratory for testing.
Participants then receive their results in the mail. If the test result is positive (ie. blood is found in the bowel motion), participants are advised to contact their GP for follow up, such as colonoscopy.If the result is negative (ie. no blood is found in the bowel motion), it may mean that participants do not need further investigations at this time. However, as no test is 100% accurate, it is important to watch out for any symptoms of bowel cancer (eg. bleeding from the bowel, changes in your regular bowel habits, abdominal pain, and unexplained tiredness etc) and if noticed, see a doctor immediately.
The Program began in Queensland in August 2006 with men and women turning 55 or 65 years of age between May 2006 and June 2008 and Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot Program* invitees being invited to participate.
The Program was further expanded in 2008 to include men and women who turned 50, 55 or 65.
The video was originally produced by the Cancer Council Victoria and has been reproduced by Queensland Health with permission. The video provides general information about bowel cancer and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program as well as explains how to complete a Faecal Occult Blood Test.
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Part 1 (Windows Media Video 4.7MB) | (QuickTime Movie 3.2MB) | (Flash Video 5.36MB) |
| Part 2 (Windows Media Video 4.8MB) | (QuickTime Movie 3.7MB) | (Flash Video 7.5MB) | |
| Part 3 (Windows Media Video 6.7MB) | (QuickTime Movie 4.9MB) | (Flash Video 8.5MB) | |
| Part 4 (Windows Media Video 4.8MB) | (QuickTime Movie 3.1MB) | (Flash Video 4.2MB) | |
| Transcript | |||
Queensland Health has provided additional funds to support the implementation of the Program in Queensland.
Some of the key features of the Queensland Bowel Cancer Screening Program include:
