Bowel cancer screening – this simple step can save your life.
Bowel cancer, also known as cancer in the large intestine, is the third most common cancer affecting Aboriginal Australians, and the second most common cancer to cause death.
Screening can help identify bowel cancer when it’s in its early stages, which can improve survival and quality of life.
What is bowel cancer screening ?
Bowel cancer can be found early using the free bowel cancer screening home test kits.
The Australian Government sends kits out every two years to the home address of all eligible Australians aged 50-74, with a listed address on the Medicare registry or Veterans Card. The test helps check for bowel cancer in its early stages.
It’s easy to do – the test is free, quick, simple and causes no pain or discomfort.
The home test kit requires you to collect two poo samples and return them in the reply-paid envelope to a laboratory.
The first sample must be stored in your refrigerator until you have collected both samples. Once you have two, they should be sent off straight away.
Wondering how to use the kit?
The instructions are in the box, but you can also have a yarn with a health professional about it if you’re not sure how to do it. Or you can watch this video
