Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer, but if detected early, more than 90 per cent of cases can be successfully treated.
Unfortunately, only 43.5 per cent of all eligible people aged 50 to 74 complete the bowel cancer screening kits sent to them every two years. If the participation rate could be increased to 60 per cent, 84,000 lives could be saved over the next 20 years.
Cancer Council Australia, in partnership with the Australian Government, has launched the Get2it national bowel cancer screening campaign to increase participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
The campaign will likely result in a greater number of enquiries to general practices about bowel cancer and screening. This presents an important opportunity for GPs and primary healthcare providers to endorse the program and support their patients’ participation.
GPs are vital in identifying patients who have never screened or are not up-to-date with their screening.
Research undertaken in 2021 by the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer identified three types of people who are not participating in bowel screening: refusers, intenders and the FOBT naïve.
Each face specific barriers to participation and GPs and primary healthcare providers are critical in responding to these challenges.
Once people choose to screen, 80 per cent will screen again when next invited.
Cancer Council has produced a GP resource which can be used to identify the best approach to support these reluctant or hesitant screeners in choosing to screen, thereby contributing to improving screening program participation rates.
Download the GP resource to support reluctant and hesitant screeners
Find information for health professionals about bowel cancer screening