Media Release
Date:
2 November 2009
Contact:
Shona Clarke 0415 992 565/ Shona.Clarke@cancervic.org.au
Almost 100,000 Victorians ignore life-saving cancer test
Men especially at risk of second biggest cancer killer by not
participating in free bowel cancer program
Victorians – particularly Victorian men - are putting their lives at risk by failing to take advantage of the
free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), according to the Annual Monitoring Report
released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare last week.
In 2008 more than 146,000 Victorians aged 50, 55 or 65 were sent a free faecal occult blood test
(FOBT) enabling them to screen for signs of bowel cancer in the comfort of their own home. However,
just over 54,000 completed the test.
“Bowel cancer kills almost 100 Victorians every month – that’s more than three times the state road toll.
Screening can help find bowel cancer at a stage when 90% of cases are curable, so it’s a tragedy the
vast majority of those eligible are not taking advantage of this vital program,” said Doreen Akkerman,
director of Cancer Council Victoria’s Cancer Information and Support Services.
The NBCSP is the first cancer screening program in Australia to target men as well as women, and has
the potential to save more lives than breast and cervical screening combined. However participation is
lower among men - just under 34% of Victorian men who received a free screening test completed it,
compared with almost 41% of Victorian women. What’s more, men are returning 1.4 times as many
positive results as women.
“Not only are far fewer men screening, but the test results for men are worse, suggesting men need it
most. Women are more familiar with the concept of screening thanks to the success of programs such
as PapScreen Victoria and BreastScreen Victoria. We need to achieve this same level of understanding
among men - that screening for cancer saves lives," said Ms Akkerman.
At just 40%, Victoria’s overall participation rate ranks third from bottom – only the Northern Territory and
New South Wales had lower participation rates.
The NBCSP restarts today (Monday 2 November) following its suspension in May this year after quality
issues were identified with kits distributed after 1 December 2008. Ms Akkerman said these issues have
now been addressed and the replacement FOBTs have been rigorously tested and approved by the
Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“From today the Government will begin redistribution of the replacement kits, starting with those who
received a negative result the first time. We strongly encourage all those Victorians who receive a kit to
complete it – spending a few extra minutes in the bathroom could just save your life,” said Ms
Akkerman.
Case study:
Dr Graeme Jones, a GP in Shepparton, received an FOBT as part of the NBCSP earlier this year and
was surprised when the test came back positive – he had no symptoms or risk factors.
“Being a GP I rationalised this as being a false positive. However the colonoscopy revealed an
asymptomatic cancer in my rectum. After major surgery and six months of chemotherapy – all in our
local hospitals – I am now well and probably fitter than before.
“Had I not done the FOBT I would almost certainly have had to face an incurable, metastatic cancer in
the future, instead of being ‘cured’,” said Dr Jones who is now a passionate advocate for the screening
program and strongly encourages all his patients 50 and over to do an FOBT.
ENDS
For comment from Doreen Akkerman or Dr Graeme Jones please contact Shona Clarke on 0415
992 565.
Further information:
Cancer Council advises those over 50 who are not currently eligible for the NBCSP to speak to their
doctor about screening using an FOBT.
If you are over 50 and not yet eligible for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program you can also
are $28 or $20 for pensioners and Health Care card holders.
Those who have one or more of the following symptoms are advised to see their doctor immediately:
bleeding from the back passage or blood after a bowel motion,
a persistent or unexpected change in bowel habits,
unexplained tiredness,
lower abdominal pain or a persistent feeling of fullness.
NEWS 
