New data highlights urgency inbowel cancer screening |
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June 6, 2009
New data on bowel cancer screening released today highlights the urgent need to fully implement screening for all Australians over 50, according to Cancer Council Western Australia.
An analysis of bowel cancers by Biogrid Australia shows the current screening program, limited to three age groups, has found double the number of bowel cancers at the most curable stage, compared with cancers found after reporting of symptoms.
“This data shows how effective a national screening program can be, yet the program is currently only available to 50, 55 and 65 year-olds,” said Cancer Council’s Director of Education and Research, Terry Slevin.
“Five million Australians are missing out on a test that could help save their lives.”
Mr Slevin said the Biogrid data showed that bowel cancer screening found the majority of bowel cancers early, when treatment had the best chance of success.
The new data co-incides with the launch of a new Cancer Council campaign today – Get Behind Bowel Screening (www.getbehindbowelscreening.com.au) – which calls on the Government to extend screening to all Australians aged 50 and over.
A group of prominent Western Australians will help launch the campaign with a march through the city centre, urging others to make a noise and get behind bowel cancer screening.
“This data supports what we have known for 10 years - faecal occult blood testing is a highly effective population screening tool for bowel cancer,” Mr Slevin said.
“However, not only are five million Australians currently missing out, current participants are only offered one-off screening. This is contrary to national health guidelines, which recommend screening at least every two years from the age of 50.”
Cancer Council WA President Professor Christobel Saunders said conservative estimates showed the Government could save the lives of more than 30 Australians each week by expanding the program to include all Australians 50 and over.
“Further delays in program expansion would lead to more unnecessary deaths,” she said.
Cancer Council is calling on all Australians to log on to www.getbehindbowelscreening.com.au and send an email to pressure the Government to fully implement the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Audio grabs: Terry Slevin, Director of Education and Research, Cancer Council WA
