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For health professionals

Increasing bowel cancer screening in general practice

Cancer Council Victoria recognises the key role GPs, nurses and other health care professionals play in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program by endorsing the program to patients and managing patients' positive faecal occult blood test (FOBT) results.

Learn about Cancer Council Victoria’s Bowel Cancer Screening Campaign

In Australia, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) provides eligible adults aged 50 to 74 years a free bowel screening test in the mail every two years to help detect the early signs of cancer before symptoms occur.

However, screening participation in Victoria have decreased for the first time in many years and currently sits at 43.9 per cent in Victoria (January 2020 – December 2021, AIHW.) In particular, people aged 50 to 54 are still our lowest screeners at 35.3% participation.

To address these low bowel screening participation rates Cancer Council Victoria is launching a new campaign focusing on bowel cancer survivor Laurie.

Meet Laurie

At 52, Laurie was fit, healthy and had done a bowel screening test 2 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 50-54 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.

Read more about Laurie’s story.

How you can help

Cancer Council Victoria is urging healthcare professionals to discuss bowel cancer screening with their patients and encourage them to take part in the NBCSP to help increase bowel cancer screening participation.

It’s important health professionals opportunistically ask their patients if they’re up to date with bowel cancer screening. Being proactive and checking if your patients are up to date with their bowel cancer screening can encourage participation. You can:.

Healthcare providers can now bulk order NBCSP kits and issue them directly to eligible patients, through the AAM on the NCSR Healthcare Provider Portal. Learn how to bulk order kits for your practice or learn more about the Alternative Access to Kits Model

During consultations, reassure your patients that if they notice any bowel cancer symptom – even if their previous screening test was normal – that it's important to see a doctor without delay.

To support you with these actions, Cancer Council Victoria has developed a bowel cancer screening landing page to learn more about bowel cancer symptoms and screening: cancervic.org.au/bowel

Patients can also speak to an experienced cancer nurse on 13 11 20 to learn about bowel cancer screening and bowel cancer in general.

Key messages you can use to increase bowel screening for patients

  • 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.  
  • At 52, Laurie felt fit, healthy and had no cancer symptoms. But after doing his bowel screening test, he was shocked to find he had bowel cancer. If Laurie hadn’t done his bowel screening test, he would be dead by now. He is urging others to do their bowel screening test now, and don’t risk their lives any longer.
  • Aged 50 to 74? Don’t take the risk, take the test.
  • Bowel cancer can develop without any symptoms and without a family history.
  • 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’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’ve misplaced, lost or your bowel screening test has expired, order a replacement at the National Bowel Screening Register.

Social media tiles

Social media copy for patient-facing channels

Sample post 1 Sample post 2 Sample post 3
If Laurie didn’t do his bowel screening test, he would be dead by now. At only 52, he felt fit, healthy and had no symptoms. That one choice to do the test changed his life forever. Because he did the test, he saw his daughter graduate, celebrated 30 years of marriage and took his son on a road trip. Aged 50 to 74? Don’t take the risk. Take the test. Learn more at cancervic.org.au/bowel #DontTakeTheRisk #CancerCouncilVictoria Over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early. If you’re aged 50 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 #CancerCouncilVictoria Don't put off bowel cancer screening and do the free test today. Our (clinic/organisation) can support you to get up to date and answer your questions. Aged 50 to 74? Don’t take the risk take the test. #DontTakeTheRisk #CancerCouncilVictoria

Newsletter copy for patient-facing channels

Title: Don’t take the risk, take the free bowel screening test!

Cancer Council Victoria’s new bowel screening campaign is calling on all Victorians aged 50 to 74 to participate in bowel screening.

Featured in their campaign is bowel cancer survivor Laurie, who would be dead right now if he hadn’t done the free bowel screening test.

At 52, Laurie felt fit, healthy and had no symptoms. Laurie had also done a bowel screening test two years earlier, which was negative.

“That one simple choice to do the test changed my life forever. I look back on everything I’ve done because I did the test, including seeing my daughter graduate, celebrating 30 years of marriage with my wife and taking a road trip with my son.

I can’t believe how much I would have missed if I hadn’t done the test.

Don’t risk your life, do the bowel screening test as soon as you get it. It saved my life, and it could save yours too.”

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).

However, participation has recently declined in the NBCSP and sits at only 43.9 per cent in Victoria. In particular people aged 50 to 54 are still our lowest screeners at 35.3% participation. In addition to this decreased screening rate, is Cancer Council Victoria data which estimates there were over 800 missed bowel cancer diagnosis in 2020 and 2021.

As more than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if they are found early, the free bowel screening test can save your life.

Learn more about bowel screening, reorder a replacement test or set a reminder via Cancer Council Victoria’s website cancervic.org.au/bowel.

Support Hindi, Vietnamese and Punjabi speaking communities

As part of this campaign, Cancer Council Victoria will be addressing the unique barriers to bowel screening faced by Victorians from Vietnamese, Punjabi and Hindi speaking communities.

These barriers include:

  • A belief that 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.

Find below new campaign materials which focus on enablers to participation which include:

  • Content from relevant and trusted health professionals that address the barriers mentioned above.
  • Increasing awareness of early detection and improved health outcomes if cancer is found early.

Organisations that support or engage people who speak these languages can use translated materials and direct audiences to our dedicated in-language website pages.

English Punjabi English Punjabi
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 50 to 74, do the free bowel screening test that comes in the mail, it can detect cancer early and save your life.

For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/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।

ਇਸ ਲਈ ਜੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਉਮਰ 50 ਤੋਂ 74 ਸਾਲ ਦੇ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਡਾਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਬੋਅਲ ਸਕ੍ਰੀਨਿੰਗ ਟੈਸਟ ਨੂੰ ਕਰੋ, ਇਹ ਕੈਂਸਰ ਦਾ ਛੇਤੀ ਪਤਾ ਲਗਾ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜਾਨ ਬਚਾਅ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ।

ਵੱਡੀ ਅੰਤੜੀ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਬਾਰੇ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਵੈੱਬਸਾਈਟ 'ਤੇ ਜਾਓ। www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
Doctors are encouraging Victorians from the Punjabi community who are aged 50 to 74 to screen for bowel cancer and save lives.

The test is quick, clean and easy, and doing it could save your life.

For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
ਡਾਕਟਰ 50 ਤੋਂ 74 ਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਉਮਰ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੇ ਵਿਕਟੋਰੀਆ ਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੱਡੀ ਅੰਤੜੀ ਦੇ ਕੈਂਸਰ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਕਰਵਾਉਣ ਅਤੇ ਜਾਨਾਂ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਲਈ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।

ਇਹ ਟੈਸਟ ਤੇਜ਼, ਸਾਫ਼-ਸੁਥਰਾ ਅਤੇ ਕਰਨ 'ਚ ਆਸਾਨ ਹੈ, ਅਤੇ ਇਸਨੂੰ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਜਾਨ ਬਚ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ।

ਵੱਡੀ ਅੰਤੜੀ ਦੀ ਜਾਂਚ ਬਾਰੇ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਵੈੱਬਸਾਈਟ 'ਤੇ ਜਾਓ। www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
English Hindi English Hindi
A simple test can help you live a long and healthy life.

Doctors are encouraging Victorians from the Hindi community who are aged 50 to 74 to screen for bowel cancer and save lives.

The test is quick, clean and easy, and doing it could save your life.

For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
एक साधारण सा टेस्ट आपको लंबा और स्वस्थ जीवन जीने में सहायता कर सकता है।

डॉक्टर हिंदी समुदाय के 50 से 74 वर्ष की आयु वाले विक्टोरियाई लोगों को बाउल (आंत) के कैंसर की जाँच करने और जीवन बचाने के लिए प्रोत्साहित कर रहे हैं।

यह टेस्ट त्वरित, स्वच्छ और आसान है और इसे करने से आपकी जान बच सकती है।

आंत्र स्क्रीनिंग के बारे में और अधिक जानकारी के लिए इस वेबसाइट पर जाएँ। www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
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 50 to 74, do the free bowel screening test that comes in the mail, it can detect cancer early and save your life.

For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/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।

इसलिए यदि आपकी उम्र 50 से 74 वर्ष है, तो डाक में आने वाला निःशुल्क आंत्र स्क्रीनिंग टेस्ट कराएँ, यह कैंसर का शीघ्र पता लगा सकता है और आपकी जान बचा सकता है।

आंत्र स्क्रीनिंग के बारे में और अधिक जानकारी के लिए इस वेबसाइट पर जाएँ। www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
English Vietnamese English Vietnamese
Doctors are encouraging Victorians from the Vietnamese community who are aged 50 to 74 to screen for bowel cancer and save lives.

It can develop even if you have a healthy diet, an active lifestyle and no family history.

The test is quick, clean and easy, and doing it could save your life.

For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
Các bác sĩ hiện đang khuyến khích cư dân Victoria trong cộng đồng người Việt ở tuổi từ 50 đến 74 nên đi tầm soát ung thư ruột và cứu mạng sống của mình.

Bệnh này có thể phát triển ngay cả khi bạn ăn uống lành mạnh, có lối sống năng động và không có bệnh sử trong gia đình.

Xét nghiệm rất nhanh chóng, sạch sẽ và dễ dàng, và làm điều này có thể cứu được mạng sống của bạn.

Để biết thêm thông tin về tầm soát ung thư ruột, hãy vào trang mạng này. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
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 50 to 74, do the free bowel screening test that comes in the mail, it can detect cancer early and save your life.

For more information on bowel screening visit this website. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/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.

Do đó, nếu bạn ở độ tuổi từ 50 đến 74, hãy làm xét nghiệm tầm soát ung thư ruột miễn phí được gởi qua đường bưu điện, xét nghiệm này có thể phát hiện ung thư sớm và cứu sống bạn.

Để biết thêm thông tin về tầm soát ung thư ruột, hãy vào trang mạng này. www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese

You can find more information on our translated websites:

Punjabi: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi

Hindi: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi

Vietnamese: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese

Resources for GPs, nurses and other health care professionals

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers information to support the role of health professionals in the program, including accessing bulk bowel screening test kits for your practice through the alternative access to kits model.

Cancer Council Victoria recognises the key role that GPs, nurses and other health professionals play in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

You can promote participation through:

Visit their website for bowel cancer screening resources for patients and health care professionals and translated resources.

Waiting room resources

Cancer Council Victoria has a range of free resources available for your waiting room, including:

  • brochure, Finding bowel cancer early can save your life, A step-by-step brochure to completing a bowel cancer screening kit, available in English, Arabic, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Karen, Simplified Chinese, Sinhalese, Tamil and Vietnamese
  • posters for waiting rooms to encourage people to complete the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program kit
  • posters and brochures specifically for the Aboriginal community.

Download or order the resources.

Managing patients via the National Cancer Screening Register

The program is supported by the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR), which invites, reminds and follows up participants to screen. The NCSR Healthcare Provider Portal is a secure environment to access and submit screening data, as well as bulk order bowel screening kits and register kits issued to participants as part of the alternative access to kits model.

You can use the portal to:

  • bulk order bowel screening kits for your practice and register a kit issued to a patient
  • access your patient’s bowel and cervical screening results and histories online
  • prepare for patient appointments by checking if they are due for screening or follow up
  • submit forms and reports electronically
  • update your patient’s information
  • order a bowel screening kit to be sent to a patient’s home address.

Alternative Access to Kits Model

Healthcare providers can bulk order National Bowel Cancer Screening Program kits and issue them directly to eligible patients. This provides the opportunity to explain why the test is important and how to do it. This is in addition to the mail-out model, where kits are mailed directly to eligible people by the National Cancer Screening Register.

Many patients are more likely to screen when it has been recommended to them by their health care professional. With your encouragement, the Alternative Access to Kits Model is targeting people less likely to screen and those who have never screened. Once people screen for the first time, we know they are more likely to keep screening.

Find out more about the Alternative Access to Kits Model.

Online training

Increase capacity and confidence in promoting the NBCSP to your patients using the free training links below.

Increasing bowel cancer screening in general practice

The online learning module Increasing bowel cancer screening in general practice is targeted towards GPs, practice nurses and practice managers which will enable a co-ordinated practice-wide approach to bowel cancer screening.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Be aware why general practice needs to endorse participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and be able to explain to patients the risks in not completing the test
  • Be familiar with the impact general practitioners can have on bowel cancer screening rates
  • Have access to the resources your practice needs to encourage patients to screen for bowel cancer
  • Have increased knowledge of key points from the national colorectal guidelines and links to further clinical information

This module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and is best viewed using Chrome or Firefox.

Breast, Bowel and Cervical Screening Clinical Education Course

Provided by the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC) this course contains information on our three national cancer screening programs, general information about how to promote screening and a specific module on under screened populations. Learn more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, as well as the other national cancer screening programs through this CPD accredited course.

Access the course: Breast, Bowel and Cervical Cancer Screening Clinical Education Course

Increased role for GPs in bowel cancer screening model

Provided by Northwest Health Primary Health Network (NWHPHN) on 20 June the webinar: An increased role for GPs in the bowel cancer screening model, covered the following topics presented by:

  • National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, Cancer Council Victoria
  • Impacts of COVID-19 on new cancer diagnoses, Victorian Cancer Registry
  • Alternative Access to kits Model and how health care providers can order, issue kits to patients and record it in the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR)
  • Accessing the NCSR and integrating clinical software, NCSR
  • GP Case Study: Integrating clinical software to the NCSR Healthcare Provider Portal.

Access the webinar: An increased role for GPs in the bowel cancer screening model (20 June 2023) - North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (nwmphn.org.au)