Starting Monday this week, Australians aged 45-49 can now opt-in to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), marking a significant milestone in bowel cancer prevention.

Since 2018, Bowel Cancer Australia has advocated for lowering the screening age from 50 to 45. An AIHW study found that NBCSP participants diagnosed with bowel cancer had a 40% lower risk of dying from the disease than non-participants.

Julien Wiggins, CEO of Bowel Cancer Australia, announced, "An additional 1.6 million Australians aged 45-49 are now eligible to request their first bowel cancer screening test, which will be mailed to them upon request. Subsequent tests will be automatically mailed every two years."

Australians aged 50 to 74 will continue to receive a screening test by mail every two years. Those aged 45 to 74 can also discuss screening options with their GP.

The at-home bowel screening test detects hidden blood in the stool, which can indicate conditions other than bowel cancer, such as polyps, haemorrhoids, or bowel inflammation. If blood is detected, a colonoscopy is needed to investigate further, potentially identifying and removing pre-cancerous polyps or confirming a cancer diagnosis.

For residents of the Fleurieu Peninsula, this change underscores the importance of proactive health measures. By participating in the NBCSP, early detection and prevention of bowel cancer can significantly increase survival rates. Talk to your GP today about getting screened.

Request your free screening kit