Bowel cancer can develop without any early warning signs. The cancer can grow on the inside wall of the bowel for several years before spreading to other parts of the body. Often very small amounts of blood leak from these growths and pass into the bowel motion before any symptoms are noticed.
A bowel cancer screening test can detect small amounts of blood in your bowel motion. Screening has been shown to reduce the incidence of bowel cancer and improve survival after a diagnosis of bowel cancer.
There are two types of tests available:
Bowelscreen® Test
Insure Bowel screen Test Kit Cost: $19.95
Annual bowel cancer screening is recommended for both men and women, aged 50 and over, with:
- no symptoms
- no personal or family history of bowel cancer or polyps.
The aim of screening is to find any polyps or to find cancer early when it is easier to treat and cure.
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Please note: People who have received a free screening test kit from the Australian Government are encouraged to participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
The Government Program only applies to people as they turn 50, 55 and 65 between January 2011 and December 2014 and does not include provision for annual screening. The free kit should arrive in the mail around the date of your birthday. Please call 1800 118 868 if you have an enquiry about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
People who are ineligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program can undergo annual screening using the Bowelscreen kit available at Fresh Therapeutics Compounding Pharmacy.
For more information go to Bowel Cancer Australia.