Bowel cancer can be treated successfully if detected early but less than 40% of bowel cancers in Australia are detected early. International randomised controlled trials have demonstrated that organised population screening for bowel cancer using faecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) can reduce mortality from bowel cancer by 15% to 40%.
In 2002-04 the Australian Government conducted a bowel cancer screening pilot program with 57,000 people aged 55-74 years.
Following the pilot program's success, and as part of its Strengthening Cancer Care Initiative in the 2005-2006 budget, the Australian Government allocated $43.4 million to phase in a National Bowel Cancer Screening Program over the next 3 years.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program uses a faecal occult blood test (FOBT) kit - a simple test for the early signs of bowel cancer that requires participants to take tiny samples from 2 bowel motions using a test kit.
The test is offered to Australians who:
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program started in Victoria on 29 January 2007.
Around 3,000 to 5,000 kits were posted to Victorians each week, and around 260,000 Victorians were invited to participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program before 30 June 2008. Most kits arrive close to the participant's birthday.
An evaluation of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will be completed prior to the 2008-09 Federal budget to guide the Government's consideration of the future of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Updated June 2007.
