You may be at risk of bowel cancer.. Here is what you need to know!!

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Bowel cancer can develop without early warning signs or symptoms and it claims the lives of 80 Australians every week. The cancer can grow inside the bowel for many years before it is detected. Often, small amounts of blood can leak from these growths and pass into bowel motions and it can be detected by a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) kit.¹

On the 2nd of Jan 2018, the Australian Government introduced a new FOBT kit (Eiken Kit) and associated pathology service (Sonic Healthcare Limited) into the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.²In light of that, here are some important information we would like you to know:^{2, 3}

• In 2018 Australians turning 50, 54, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 and 74 will receive a free home screening test (FOBT) in the mail
• More age groups will be added next year and by 2020, the test will be available free (once every two years) to all Australians aged 50 to 74.
• Generally, the kits will arrive within six months of your birthday
• There is no cost involved
• The test involves taking a tiny sample of faeces which is tested in a pathology laboratory. The test can detect tiny amounts of blood in faeces which may be a sign of cancer or polyps.
• If you have received your kit but unsure of what to do with it, here are some pictorial instructions 
• If your test is positive, you and your nominated doctor will be advised. Your doctor will then refer you for further investigation. Take note that most positive test results do not turn out to be cancer; however, if bowel cancer is diagnosed, it’s twice as likely to be picked up early through the screening program and be successfully treated.
• If you are not currently eligible for the program, you can still be tested. Your doctor can request an FOBT kit or it can also be obtained over the counter from some pharmacies.

If you have any questions about bowel cancer or the screening test kit, leave a comment or speak to one of our pharmacists about it. Feel free to share this article with your friends and family members to help empower more people in the community! For ongoing health and medicine updates, follow our Facebook page and Website!

References

1. Cancer Council Australia. Understanding Your FOBT [Internet]. Cancer Council Australia [updated 2017 Nov 17; cited 2018 May 22]. Available from: https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/early-detection/early-detection-factsheets/understanding-your-fobt.html
2. Australian Government Department of Health. New National Bowel Cancer Screening Program Test Kit. Australian Government Department of Health [updated 2018 Jan 17; cited 2018 May 22]. Available from: http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/NBCSP-test-kit
3. Cancer Council Victoria. National Bowel Cancer Screening Program [Internet]. Cancer Council Victoria [cited 2018 May 22]. Available from: http://www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/bowel-cancer-screening-program