Ten years of “pilots, reviews, research and … uncertainty” has left Australian bowel cancer screening in a sorry state, an expert says.
Julien Wiggins, head of Bowel Cancer Australia, says a “decade of dithering” has led to a “piecemeal program” with little community awareness and dire participation rates of around 40%.
The National Bowel Cancer Screening program, first trialled in 2002, provides a one-off faecal occult blood test to those turning 50, 55 or 65 before December 2014.
NHMRC guidelines recommend biennial screening in those over 50. A 2005 report suggested this lowers the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 33% (1).
National screening programs for breast and cervical cancer provide biennial screening and enjoy roughly 20% higher participation rates in their...
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