Bowel screening saves lives: stakeholder toolkit
Help promote the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to your networks to save lives through the early detection of bowel cancer.About the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
Australians aged 45 to 74 are eligible to do a bowel screening test every two years through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, to help detect the early signs of bowel cancer before symptoms occur.
People aged 50 to 74 will receive a free bowel screening test in the mail every two years, while people aged 45 to 49 can opt-in to the program by requesting a kit.
More than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated when found early. However, only 42.6 per cent of Victorians aged 50 to 74 years are participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (2021-22).
While all Victorians aged 45 to 74 are encouraged to do their bowel screening test every two years, participation is lower among some groups. Only 34.3% of people aged 50 to 54 are currently screening, making this group one of the lowest in participation rates. In addition, for the first time, people aged 45 to 49 have been invited to opt into the program,
Using the content below, you can make a significant impact on the lives of your community by encouraging them to participate in bowel cancer screening.
Key messages you can use to increase bowel screening
- More than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early.
- Bowel cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer death in Australia.
- Aged 45 to 74? Don’t take the risk, take the test.
- Bowel cancer can develop without any symptoms and without a family history.
- If you’re aged 50 to 74 you should do the free bowel screening test every two years when it’s sent to you in the mail. If you're aged 45 to 49 you can order a free kit online at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.
- When you get your bowel screening kit in the mail, open it up and put the test in your bathroom. You can set a reminder to do the test via the Cancer Council Victoria website at www.cancervic.org.au/bowel.
- If you’ve misplaced, lost or your bowel screening test has expired, order a replacement at the National Bowel Screening Register's website or by calling 1800 627 701.
How you can help
By promoting bowel screening to your networks, you can help increase bowel screening participation and save lives.
Help us promote bowel screening through your networks by directing Victorians to our website.
Learn more about bowel screening
We appreciate your support. You can also download our new graphics and don’t forget to tag us on social media @CancerVic.
Social media
Are you aged 45 to 74? You should do the free bowel screening test every two years to protect your health against bowel cancer. If you’re aged 45 to 49 order a free kit online at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701. If you’re aged 50 to 74 you’ll receive a free test kit in the mail. Don’t take the risk. Take the test. Learn more at cancervic.org.au/bowel #DontTakeTheRisk
Over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early. If you’re aged 45 to 74, make sure you do the free bowel screening test every two years. Put it in your bathroom as soon as you get it so that you can use it next time you go to the toilet. The test can save your life. Learn more about bowel screening here: cancervic.org.au/bowel #DontTakeTheRisk
Newsletter copy
Title: Don’t take the risk, take the free bowel screening test!
Cancer Council Victoria is urging Victorians aged 45 to 74 to prioritise bowel screening to help find bowel cancer early and ensure they live long healthy lives.
Eligible Australians aged 50 to 74 years are sent a free bowel screening test every two years as part of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). People aged 45 to 49 can order a free kit online at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.
Bowel screening participation has in the NBCSP sits at only 42.6 per cent in Victoria (2021-2022). However, more than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if they are found early. That’s why we are encouraging all Victorians who are due to do the free bowel screening test - it can save your life.
It is important that all Victorians aged 45 to 74 complete the bowel screening test every two years, even if you feel fit and healthy, the test can find signs of cancer before symptoms occur.
Learn more about bowel screening, reorder a replacement test or set a reminder at Cancer Council Victoria’s website cancervic.org.au/bowel.
Support Hindi, Vietnamese and Punjabi speaking communities
People from multicultural backgrounds face unique barriers to bowel screening.
These barriers include:
- Eating a vegetarian diet will protect them.
- Fear of the test bringing a fatal diagnosis or bad karma.
- Hesitancy around storing the test sample in the fridge.
- Having no symptoms.
- Assuming this is not a disease which affects their community.
We’ve created a suite of bowel screening resources for the Punjabi, Hindi and Vietnamese-speaking communities that address these barriers to encourage eligible Victorians from these communities to participate in bowel screening.
Use the below social media copy, social media tiles and translated website pages to help promote bowel screening to these communities through your networks.
Punjabi
ਸਾਡੇ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੱਡੀ ਅੰਤੜੀ ਦਾ ਕੈਂਸਰ ਹੋਣਾ ਆਮ ਗੱਲ ਹੈ। ਭਾਵੇਂ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਿਹਤਮੰਦ ਖ਼ੁਰਾਕ ਖਾਂਦੇ ਹੋਵੋ, ਸਰਗਰਮ ਜੀਵਨ ਸ਼ੈਲੀ ਜਿਉਂਦੇ ਹੋਵੋ, ਅਤੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਕਦੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਾ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੋਵੇ, ਇਹ ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਹਾਲਾਂਕਿ, ਜੇਕਰ ਜਲਦੀ ਪਤਾ ਲਗਾ ਲਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਵੱਡੀ ਅੰਤੜੀ ਦੇ ਕੈਂਸਰ ਦੇ 90% ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਫ਼ਲ ਇਲਾਜ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।
ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਉਮਰ 45 ਤੋਂ 74 ਸਾਲ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਹਰ 2 ਸਾਲਾਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਅੰਤੜੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਜਾਂਚ ਕਰਵਾਓ, ਇਹ ਕੈਂਸਰ ਦਾ ਛੇਤੀ ਪਤਾ ਲਗਾ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜਾਨ ਬਚਾਅ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ।
ਵੱਡੀ ਅੰਤੜੀ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਬਾਰੇ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਵੈੱਬਸਾਈਟ 'ਤੇ ਜਾਓ। www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
English equivalent
Bowel cancer is common in our community. It can develop even if you have a healthy diet, an active lifestyle, and no family history.
However, over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early.
So if you’re aged 45 to 74, do the free bowel screening test it can detect cancer early and save your life.
For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
Hindi
आंत के कैंसर से अपने स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा करें ।
हो सकता है कि कोई संकेत या लक्षण न भी हों और आप स्वस्थ महसूस कर रहे हों, लेकिन आपको आंत का कैंसर हो सकता है।
यदि आपकी आयु 45 से 74 वर्ष के बीच है, तो हर 2 साल में नि:शुल्क बाउल स्क्रीनिंग टेस्ट करें, यह शुरूआत में ही कैंसर का पता लगा सकता है और आपके प्राण बचा सकता है।
आंत्र स्क्रीनिंग के बारे में और अधिक जानकारी के लिए इस वेबसाइट पर जाएँ। www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
English equivalent
Protect your health from bowel cancer.
There may be no signs or symptoms and you may feel healthy, but you could have bowel cancer.
So, if you’re aged 45 to 74, do the free bowel screening test, it can detect cancer early and save your life.
For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
Vietnamese
Bảo vệ sức khoẻ khỏi ung thư ruột.
Có thể không có dấu hiệu hoặc triệu chứng nào và bạn có thể cảm thấy khỏe mạnh, nhưng bạn đã có thể bị ung thư ruột.
Tuy nhiên, hơn 90% bệnh ung thư ruột có thể được điều trị hiệu quả nếu phát hiện sớm.
Nếu quý vị ở độ tuổi từ 45 đến 74, hãy làm xét nghiệm tầm soát ruột miễn phí mỗi 2 năm, nó có thể phát hiện sớm ung thư và cứu sống quý vị.
Để biết thêm thông tin về tầm soát ung thư ruột, hãy vào trang mạng này. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
English equivalent
Protect your health from bowel cancer.
There may be no signs or symptoms and you may feel healthy, but you could have bowel cancer.
However, over 90% of bowel cancers can be effectively treated if found early.
So if you’re aged 45 to 74, do the free bowel screening test it can detect cancer early and save your life.
For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
You can find more information on our translated websites here:
Punjabi: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
Hindi: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
Vietnamese: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
Meet Laurie
At 52, Laurie was fit, healthy and had done a bowel screening test two years earlier that was negative. He was about to throw out his latest test until his wife encouraged him to do it.
Shortly afterwards, Laurie was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and if he hadn’t done the test, he would have been dead by now.
Laurie’s story is powerful, and highlights the importance of all Victorians, including those aged 50 to 54 to participate in bowel screening every two years. It addresses the misconceptions some people have about not needing to screen because they don’t have any symptoms or are fit and healthy and highlights the benefits of finding bowel cancer early.
