Bowel screening

Bowel screening is a health check that assesses if you are at risk of developing bowel cancer. Bowel cancer can affect you, no matter what you were presumed to be at birth. The number one risk factor for bowel cancer is age, for those 50+, which means even if you have few or no other risk factors, it’s important to start screening at 50. 

To develop this page, we worked with the ACON team responsible for Can We and who lead ACON’s work addressing cancer prevention in LGBTQ+ communities. 

Bowel cancer is a malignant growth that occurs generally in the lining of the large bowel. It usually develops from a polyp which can develop into cancer over time. 

How common is it? 

In NSW, 1 in 14 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer – it is the second biggest cancer killer in both Australia and NSW.1 

Bowel cancer currently kills more people in NSW than prostate cancer, breast cancer or melanoma. But the good news is, if detected early, bowel cancer can be successfully treated in more than 90% of cases. This is why it’s so important to do the bowel cancer screening test. 

Data show that 91% of bowel cancers in NSW were found in people aged 50+. That’s why Australia’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends a free bowel screening kit to your home every two years from the age of 50. 

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is a free Australian Government initiative that aims to reduce bowel cancer deaths through early detection of the disease. From the age of 50, everybody, regardless of gender or sexuality, needs to screen for bowel cancer. 

Screening for bowel cancer is quick, easy and free using the kit that arrives right to your door. All you have to do to use the kit, is do a poo (actually, two), collect a sample from each, and pop the samples in the mail using the reply-paid envelope provided. It’s free, quick, clean and easy and you can do it from home. 

The bowel cancer screening kit is a free, clean and easy test that arrives at your door for you to do in the comfort of your home. It looks for very small amounts of blood in the bowel motion (poo) that may be a sign of bowel cancer. 

The kit contains everything you need to do the test easily and hygienically, including a simple how-to guide. You collect two tiny samples of your poo, from two consecutive bowel movements (one sample from each poo) using the collection sticks provided in the kit. Keep your samples in the fridge (not freezer), until you post them back in the pre-paid envelope, and that’s it.  

Understanding you results 

If your test is negative, there’s nothing you need to do until you receive the next kit in two years’ time.  

If your test is positive (i.e. blood was detected in your poo), you will need to visit your doctor to discuss next steps. Your doctor will usually refer you for a colonoscopy to help identify the cause of bleeding. 

Occasionally, a result might come back as inconclusive, meaning the lab can’t analyse your sample. In this case, you’ll be sent a new kit within 4 to 10 weeks, so you can re-do the test. 

There are lots of ways you can reduce your risk of bowel cancer, including: 

Drinking less 

We know that LGBTQ communities drink more than the general population, which is putting us at a higher risk of bowel cancer and other health issues2. Reducing your alcohol intake reduces your risk of bowel cancer. If you want to reduce or stop drinking or are concerned about your drinking, Pivot Point, ACON’s resource for LGBTQ+ people, is a good place to start. 

Diet and exercise 

A high fibre diet can reduce your risk of bowel cancer. Aim for a high fibre diet which includes wholegrain, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts. Regular exercise also reduces the risk of bowel cancer. 

Getting your calcium 

Getting enough calcium can decrease your risk of bowel cancer, including dairy products or calcium supplements. 

Less Red Meat 

Eating too much red meat and in particular processed meat, such as bacon, salami and ham, and charred meat, such as barbecued meat, is strongly linked with a high risk of bowel cancer. Limiting the amount of red meat you eat will reduce your risk of bowel cancer. 

Smoking 

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer, including bowel cancer. We know that LGBTQ people smoke more than the general population and this is putting us at a higher risk of cancer and other diseases2.  If you are thinking about reducing or quitting smoking, ICanQuit, is a great place to start.

Other factors 

Other factors such as family history, history of polyps, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions may affect your risk of bowel cancer. If you have questions about your risk and what is right for you, talk to your doctor about bowel screening. 

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will automatically send a free Home Test Kit to your address, as recorded by Medicare or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, every two years.  

Recipients are eligible if they meet the following criteria: 

• Aged 50-74 

• Are entitled to Medicare either as an Australian citizen or permanent resident 

• Have a current Medicare card or are registered as a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) customer; and  

• Have a mailing address in Australia 

If you are not eligible for the free Home Test Kit, it’s best to talk to your doctor about bowel cancer screening and what options are right for you. This may include purchasing a bowel screening test, for about $40. 

Symptoms and existing conditions 

The bowel cancer screening kit is for people with no symptoms. If you are experiencing any symptoms of bowel cancer, of which you can find a full list here, you need to see your doctor straight away.