Victorians aged 45-49 now have access to a free National Bowel Cancer Screening kit.
The announcement to increase the age range able to access the kit was announced earlier this month, with Cancer Council Victoria strongly supporting the change.
Cancer Council Victoria’s Head of Prevention and Adjunct Associate Professor Craig Sinclair said Cancer Council was pleased with the decision, particularly as latest Victorian Cancer Registry data shows that 72 Victorian men and 73 Victorian women aged 45-49 were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2022 – a worrying figure softened by the knowledge that 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be treated successfully, if found early.
“Bowel cancer is Victoria’s second leading cause of cancer-related death among men, and the third among women. But it can also be prevented through participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program,” he said.
“The test, also known as the faecal occult blood test, can detect signs of bowel cancer before symptoms occur.
“Bowel cancer can develop with no symptoms or family history. This is why doing regular screening from the age of 45 is so important, even if you feel well and live a healthy lifestyle.”
Feeling well and living a healthy lifestyle was exactly why 48-year-old Victorian father Lupco Talevski was shocked to learn that he had several large polyps in his bowel.
If left untreated, these could have developed into bowel cancer.
“It wasn’t like I had noticed anything unusual. I had no symptoms and wouldn’t have thought anything was wrong,” he said.
“Mine is a cautionary tale. I thought of myself as healthy. I don’t smoke, I eat healthily, and don’t drink. I’ve been a swimmer for all my life and love being active, so it really surprised me that I could be at risk.
“I’ve read many stories of people diagnosed with cancer, but this test can help you not get to that stage, so it is really important to share this message.
“If you think bowel cancer is only an old person’s disease, then think again. I am so lucky to be here, and everyone should know that they could be at risk, but also how simple and easy it is to do this test.
“I am so lucky, and it is fantastic that more people can do the test. I really want to use my experience to urge others to do the test. Talk to your friends, check in with your friends. If you’re not feeling good, speak to somebody, go and talk to a doctor and take the initiative.”
To order a bowel screening test kit, visit www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or call the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701. Once opted into the program, participants will then automatically receive a kit in the mail every two years after their initial screening.
To learn more about bowel screening, visit www.cancervic.org.au/bowel.
