21/07/2026
CTG Aboriginal Health
Bowel Cancer screening is important for early intervention as a bowel screening test can detect abnormalities even if there are no symptoms, as screening can pick up changes long before symptoms are noticed. Signs of bowel cancer are, blood in poo, losing weight for no reason, feeling tired or no reason, changes in your normal bowel habits. If you have these signs, it does not mean you have bowel cancer, but you should see your doctor to be checked.
The biggest risk for bowel cancer is being over 50, other risks include smoking, drinking a lot of alcohol, poor diet, being overweight and a family history of bowel cancer.
Screening is easy to do, Australians aged 45 to 74 with Medicare cards can screen free every 2 years through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. People aged 50 to 74 should receive a free home testing kit in the mail every 2 years, if you haven’t received a kit, see your doctor for a kit to do the bowel screening test. If you are under the age of 45 but have symptoms, or a family history of bowel cancer you can speak with your doctor for further information and screening.
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