National Bowel Cancer Screening: Got the kit? Just do it!
Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. That is 1 in 23 Australians! Fortunately, we have a simple screening test. This is called the Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT). However, only a 39% of Australians who receive the free kit use it. The main reason? They are too busy.
People aged 50 to 74 years old, who are without symptoms, are invited to participate. Your faeces may look normal, but the FOBT can detect blood that is invisible to the naked eye. Bowel cancer, when diagnosed early, can be treated successfully.
If you receive the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Kit, please do not throw it away or keep it in your drawer. Just do it.
*** if you have changes in your bowels habits, blood in your stools, black stools, you don’t need bowel screening. You need to see your GP.