Bowel screening saves lives: stakeholder toolkit

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, research shows that only 44.3 per cent of Victorians aged 50 to 74 years are participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (2022–23), and only 11% of Victorians aged 45 to 49 requested the test the first year of the program being available to them.

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. 

• 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 register online and request a free kit at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.
• The test is simple and can save your life.
• The free bowel screening test is easy, quick and can be done in the comfort of your own home.
• When you get your bowel screening kit in the mail, open it up and complete the test as soon as you can.
• If you’ve misplaced, lost or your bowel screening test has expired, request a replacement at the National Bowel Screening Register's website or by calling 1800 627 701.

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 cancer screening  

We appreciate your support. You can also download our new graphics and don’t forget to tag us on social media @CancerVic.

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 request 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 44.3 per cent in Victoria (2022–2023). 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 aged 45 to 74 to do the free bowel screening test – it can save your life.

Bowel cancer can develop without any symptoms and with no family history. The earlier bowel cancer is found, the better our chances of treating it. The free bowel screening test is easy, quick and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

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 or request a replacement test at Cancer Council Victoria’s website cancervic.org.au/bowel. 

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 new translated webpages for Punjabi, Hindi, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Italian and Greek-speaking communities that address these barriers and 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. 

You can find more information on our translated webpages:

• Punjabi: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/punjabi
• Hindi: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/hindi
• Vietnamese: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/vietnamese
• Cantonese: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/traditional-chinese
• Mandarin: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/simplified-chinese
• Arabic: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/arabic
• Greek: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/greek
• Italian: www.cancervic.org.au/bowel/italian