BOWEL CANCER SCREENING

Bowel cancer causes the second highest number of cancer deaths in Australians. However, 90% of bowel cancer cases are cured if detected early.

Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is the most effective population screening test for detecting early signs of bowel cancer. FOBT involves collecting small samples of your stool and mailing them to a pathology laboratory for analysis. The test looks for very small amounts of blood in the stool that is invisible to the naked eye in people who do not have any obvious symptoms of bowel cancer. 

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends out free screening kits every 2 years to all Australians aged 50 to 74. 

A positive result means blood in the stool samples has been detected. The presence of blood in the stool may be due to conditions other than bowel cancer such as medications, polyps, haemorrhoids or inflammation fo the bowel, but the underlying cause of the bleeding needs to be investigated by colonoscopy. You should contact your doctor immediately to discuss the result and obtain a referral for a colonoscopy within 30 days.

A negative test means blood has not been detected in the stool samples. It does not mean that you do not have, or can never develop, bowel cancer, since some bowel cancers do not bleed or only bleed on and off. The test should be repeated every 2 years and if you develop any symptoms of bowel cancer see your doctor immediately. 

Category 1: At or slightly above average risk 

If you have 

• No first- or second-degree relative with bowel cancer
• One first-degree relative with bowel cancer diagnosed at 55 years or older
• One first-degree and one second-degree with bowel cancer diagnosed at 55 years or older

Screening recommendations

• FOBT every 2 years from age 50 to 74

Category 2: At moderately increase risk 

If you have 

• One first-degree relative with bowel cancer diagnosed under 55 years
• Two first-degree relatives with bowel cancer diagnosed at any age
• One first-degree relative and at least two second-degree relative with bowel cancer diagnosed at any age

Screening recommendations

• FOBT every 2 years from age 40 to 50 
• Colonoscopy every 5 years from age 50 to 74
• Consider low-dose (100 mg) aspirin daily

Category 3: At potentially high risk 

If you have 

• At least three first-degree or second-degree relatives with bowel cancer, with at least one diagnosed under 55 years 
• At least three first-degree relatives with bowel cancer diagnosed at any age

Screening recommendations

• FOBT every 2 years from age 35 to 44
• Colonoscopy every five years from age 45 to 74
• Consider low-dose (100 mg) aspirin daily
• Consider referral to family cancer clinic 

Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy

Rapid Access Endoscopy

Colonic Polyps

Diverticular Disease