A guide to: Bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening saves lives. Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early signs of bowel cancer. 

If you’ve put off or skipped your screening test, it’s important to catch up – it could save your life. If found early, 90% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated. 

If you have received a test kit, don’t leave it in a drawer. Do your test next time you go to the bathroom. If you didn’t receive a kit or it’s damaged, lost, or expired, you can easily get another by filling out the National Cancer Screening Register’s reorder form.

Why is bowel cancer screening important?

Bowel (or colorectal) cancer causes the second highest number of cancer deaths in Australia after lung cancer. However, around 90% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated if detected early.

Cancer Council Australia recommends that all Australians eligible complete the free, at-home faecal occult blood test (FOBT). FOBT is the most effective population screening tool for detecting early signs of bowel cancer. 

Who is bowel screening for?

From 1^st July 2024, the Australian Government is lowering the eligible screening age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program from 50 to 45.  People aged 50-74 will still be sent a free home test kit by the Australian Government every two years, but people aged 45-49 will also be able to request a free screening kit to be mailed to them. 

If you are not yet eligible for the program, but have symptoms, a family history, or are concerned about bowel cancer, speak to your GP.  

For more information on bowel cancer screening, call Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or check out bowelcancer.org.au. 

How to participate

The free bowel screening test is something you do yourself easily at home. Instructions are clearly given in the pack you will receive, and your results will indicate what action, if any, you need to take.

If you have a positive result - it is important that you talk to your doctor about next steps. They may give you a referral for a colonoscopy - be sure to attend when this is scheduled by the hospital.

Brian's story

Erik's story

Erik Carapetian received the bowel screening test in the mail shortly after his 50^th birthday. Erik did the test straight away, even though he normally wouldn’t bother with as he was healthy, active, didn’t smoke and had no symptoms

The test came back positive and Erik’s GP sent him for a colonoscopy which detected a tumour. Erik was booked in for surgery and within a week of diagnosis the tumour had been removed and was confirmed as bowel cancer.

This simple test may have saved Erik’s life and he now encourages other Australians, especially men in their 50s, to take advantage of the free National Bowel Screening Program and do the lifesaving test.

For more information