Expansion of Australia’s bowel cancer screening program could save 30 lives each week

New research has revealed that as many as 5 million Australians are missing out on bowel cancer screening tests that could save their lives and according to new data on bowel cancer screening released last week there is an urgent for all Australians over 50 to be screened.

The Cancer Council Australia says 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.

The CEO of Cancer Council Australia, Professor Ian Olver, says the data shows how effective a national screening program can be, yet the program is currently only available to 50, 55 and 65 year-olds, which means that 5 million Australians are missing out on a test that could help save their lives.

According to the data, 41% of cancers found through the program were at the most curable stage (stage A), compared with just 18% found through testing people after they reported symptoms.

The Cancer Council has launched a new campaign – Get Behind Bowel Screening – which calls on the Government to extend screening to all Australians aged 50 and over.

Professor Olver says the Biogrid data shows that bowel cancer screening found the majority of bowel cancers early, when treatment had the best chance of success and supports what has been known for 10 years - that faecal occult blood testing is a highly effective population screening tool for bowel cancer.

Professor Olver says however, not only are five million Australians currently missing out, current participants are only offered one-off screening which is contrary to national health guidelines, which recommend screening at least every two years from the age of 50 on.

Professor Olver said that according to conservative estimates, the Government could save the lives of more than 30 Australians each week by expanding the program to include all Australians 50 and over and further delays in program expansion would lead to more unnecessary deaths.

Professor Olver says despite recent quality issues associated with some screening kits, people not to lose faith in this vital program.