Australians aged 40 to 84 should receive free bowel cancer self-screening kits to help tackle rising cases, a leading charity for the disease says.
Key Points:
- Bowel Cancer Australia wants the age group eligible for free screening to be expanded from 50-74 to 40-84
- About 43 per cent of Australians who receive self-assessment kits in the mail actually take the test
- Experts agree that most bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early enough
Bowel Cancer Australia is calling on the federal government to expand the eligible age group, currently 50 to 74, for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, where people receive free home test kits in the mail every two years.
It comes after Cancer Council Australia, with the federal government, launched the national Get2it campaign, to increase participation in the screening program, which stands at around 43 per cent.
Bowel Cancer Australia chief executive Julien Wiggins said the research showed 75 per cent of all young-onset cases were diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 49.
“In addition, a recent study showed a sharp increase in the incidence of bowel cancer between the ages of 49 and 50, with the majority of cases diagnosed at an invasive stage among patients aged 50, specifically,” he said.
In Australia, one in 14 men and one in 15 women will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime, but when caught early, around nine in 10 cancers can be successfully treated.
Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler says anyone in doubt should see their GP. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Health Minister Mark Butler said the bowel cancer screening program, including its age range, was currently being reviewed.
“Anyone who is concerned about bowel cancer or notices changes in bowel habits should discuss this with their GP,” he said.
“Free bowel screening tests are available to people of any age at the discretion of their GP.”
Key to early detection
As a healthy 37-year-old, Robbie Barnes was caring for his mother with breast cancer and keeping up with the demands of everyday life.
The Sydney resident shrugged off symptoms including blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits, fatigue and significant swelling that had been creeping up over time.
Robbie Barnes says the symptoms of bowel cancer crept up on him slowly. (Provided by Robbie Barnes)
“The main thing is that I lost about 17 kilos … without having done much to try to lose that weight,” he said.
“Having everything so fast over a period of 18 months to two years is a bit faster than normal.
“I should have checked myself earlier.”
When he went to his GP, Mr Barnes was immediately referred to specialists. After blood tests, an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, a 61 mm tumor was found in his intestine.
He has since completed six weeks of radiation and is now undergoing chemotherapy, before doctors plan to surgically remove parts of his intestine.
The treatment is expected to last 18 months.
Barnes shared her story in the hope of inspiring others to see their doctor if they have the slightest symptom and encouraging the government to increase bowel cancer screening.
Why extend the projection?
Bowel Cancer Australia chief medical officer Graham Newstead said the country had almost the best screening program in the world, but it wasn’t perfect.
Dr Graham Newstead says cancers that develop from polyps can take around five years to develop. (Supplied: Bowel Cancer Australia)
He said increases in bowel cancers detected in people under 50 and over their mid-70s were increasing, while cancers in those aged 55 to 70 were becoming less common because more polyps were being detected and removed.
One in 10 bowel cancers was found in people under the age of 50.
With Australia’s population aging, with people more likely to live into their 80s, Dr Newstead said expanding the program could catch more cases earlier.
One in 13 chances
Colorectal and general surgeon Bradley Morris said bowel cancer had a one in 13 chance of affecting Australians in their lifetime.
“The causes can be multifactorial, there are genetic dispositions, which is why family history is a very important consideration,” he said.
“At the individual level, we know some broad causes, but it’s not possible to pinpoint a precise cause for most people.
“Many people are not at risk.”
He said health and lifestyle-related risk factors include smoking, consuming higher amounts of red meat, processed foods and alcohol, and being overweight or obese.
Dr. Morris said symptoms included blood in a person’s stool, which should not be dismissed as hemorrhoid-related without seeking medical attention.
Fatigue and loss of energy, a persistent change in bowel habits for more than two to three weeks, and a change in the frequency, size, shape, color or consistency of stools were other symptoms, he said.
Dr Morris said that in later stages, people could experience abdominal pain, abdominal distension, weight loss and loss of appetite.
Lidia Nancovski and Lana Klimovski are on a mission to improve preventive medical care.
Online tests
Cancer Council Australia has a national partnership with doctors.com.au, a platform that aims to increase preventative care by reminding current and new patients to see their GP, determine their risk of disease and to do a check if necessary.
Lidia Nancovski co-founded the platform with her sister Lana and said the service focused on preventive health, helping people manage check-ups, appointments and screenings.
“We develop tests so that people can take a test to find out if they have a higher risk profile … and then we send them a recommendation,” he said.
“It’s determining their risk and also whether they’re 50 or older and sending them reminders to get tested.”
Screening questions and recommendations were reviewed and approved by the Cancer Council.
More than 80,000 lives could be saved
Cancer Council Australia chief executive Tanya Buchanan said by improving participation among Australians already eligible for bowel cancer screening, 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040.
Cancer Council chief executive Tanya Buchanan says more than 80,000 lives could be saved if more people screened at home.
“What we’re trying to do with this campaign is get six out of 10 Australians to do the program when they get the kit in the mail,” he said.
“What we’ve found is that, in reality, most people intend to do it, but they don’t get around to it.
“So that’s why this Get2it campaign is encouraging Australians to wear this kit, as soon as they get it in the mail, put it in the bathroom, set a reminder on their phone and don’t put it off – as soon as it arrives.”
This article is general in nature and anyone who is concerned about their health should seek medical advice from their GP.