Cancer Australia welcomes the announcement by The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health, of the expansion of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
The Federal Government will accelerate the expansion of the bowel screening age range to 50-74, with those eligible to be screened being sent free, at-home screening kits every two years.
About 16,980 Australians were diagnosed with bowel cancer last year, and that incidence is expected to increase to an estimated 19,960 by 2020.
Bowel cancer is potentially one of the most preventable cancers through the early detection of abnormalities. As there are often no symptoms in the early stages, regular screening is important in the early detection and effective treatment of bowel cancer.
The roll out is scheduled to be completed by 2020.
For more information about the Federal Government’s bowel cancer screening program, go to the Bowel Cancer Screening Website. To view the Minister’s media release in full, click here.