Bowel cancer screening saves lives, and it’s free.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia with millions of Australians screening for the disease every year. It affects men and women and is the second leading cause of cancer death.
The Australian Government has lowered the eligible screening age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to 45. People aged 50 to 74 will automatically be sent a free home test kit by the Australian Government every two years, and now people aged 45 to 49 can also request their free test.
Screening every two years can help find bowel cancer early when 90% of cases can be successfully treated.
If participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program increases to and sustains at 60%, 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040. Don’t put off the chance to save your life – do the test.
Why screening for bowel (colorectal) cancer matters
The chance of developing bowel cancer (including colon cancer or colorectal cancer) increases with age.
Screening every two years is important as bowel cancer can occur without any obvious signs, symptoms or family history. Even if you feel fit and healthy you should do the test.
Your risk of developing bowel cancer is greater if you:
- have had an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
- have had special types of polyps, called adenomas, in the bowel; or
- have a significant family history of bowel cancer, colon cancer or polyps.
What is the free bowel screening test?
Screening for bowel cancer involves doing a simple, at-home test called an immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT). This bowel cancer screening test looks for tiny traces of blood in the poo which can be invisible to the human eye and could be a sign of bowel cancer.
The free test can be done at home and is quick, simple, and hygienic.
The bowel cancer screening test is for people who have no symptoms of bowel cancer. It also may not be for people who have a personal, or family, history of bowel cancer. If you have any of these, you should talk with your doctor, because this test may not be right for you.
Am I eligible for a free bowel cancer screening test?
The Australian Government has lowered the eligible screening age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to 45. You are eligible to do the test if you are aged 45 to 74, have a green Medicare card, and an Australian mailing address.
| Age | What you need to know |
| 45 to 49 years | You can request your first free bowel screening kit via webform or by calling 1800 627 701. |
| 50 to 74 years | You'll be automatically sent a free home screening kit to complete every two years through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. |
| 45 to 74 years | You can also speak with your doctor about getting a screening kit. |
When not to do the test:
- if you have your period, or if it ended less than three days ago.
- If you have haemorrhoids (piles) that are bleeding
- if you have recently had a colonoscopy
- if you can see blood in your urine, poo, or in the toilet bowl – if this happens, speak to a GP.
You should speak to a GP if you have:
- symptoms of bowel cancer
- a strong family history of bowel cancer
For more information, visit the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program website.
Is the bowel cancer screening test free?
Yes, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is free for Australians aged 45 to 74.
- If you are aged 45 to 49, you can request your first free kit here or by calling 1800 627 701.
- If you are under 45 you should speak to your GP about bowel cancer screening.
Learn more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
When will I receive the test?
- From the age of 50 you will be mailed the iFOBT test every two years until you turn 74.
- If you are aged 45 to 49 you can request your first free kit.
The kit is mailed to your registered Medicare address.
Your bowel cancer screening test will arrive at the address listed on your Medicare card. Visit Medicare to make sure your details are up to date.
Extended exposure to hot weather can affect the accuracy of any bowel cancer screening tests, so if you live in an area where it gets very hot, you will be sent a kit in the colder months of the year. If you would like to receive your kit sooner, you can also request it now.
If you don’t complete your test, you will be sent another one in two years. If you have not received a kit, or yours is damaged, lost or expired you can request a replacement kit.
What does my test result mean?
Millions of Australians do the bowel cancer screening test, and for most people the test result is negative.
After mailing your samples to the lab for testing, you and your doctor will receive the result within 4 weeks.
A negative test result means there is no blood in your poo samples. This doesn’t mean that you do not have or won't get bowel cancer in the future. If you have a negative result, you still need to test again in two years.
A positive result doesn’t always mean bowel cancer. It means blood was found in your poo and should be investigated further with your doctor.
Bleeding may occur due to polyps, haemorrhoids or inflammation, and may not mean you have cancer.
Blood in your poo does need to be investigated to make sure you’re healthy. If your test result is positive, contact a GP to discuss your result and if you need more tests.
If you’re confused, worried or have more questions, speak to a GP.
FAQs
Yes, colon cancer is essentially the same as bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is cancer in any part of the large bowel (colon or rectum). It is sometimes known as colorectal cancer and might also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where it starts in the bowel.
Yes. The free bowel cancer screening kit tests for traces of blood from anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. It is not a diagnostic test. It does not detect cancer; it detects traces of blood in your poo, which can be a sign of cancer.
Bowel cancer can develop without any signs or symptoms. The clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer recommend doing the bowel cancer screening test every two years, even if you feel healthy or don’t have any family history of bowel cancer. Detecting bowel cancer early greatly increases the chances that it can be treated successfully.
The bowel cancer screening test is designed to detect tiny amounts of blood in your poo that may be a sign of bowel cancer. While the test detects most bowel cancers (up to 85%), it does not detect all cancers. Some bowel cancers do not bleed, or may only bleed intermittently, meaning they may not be detected at the time of testing. This is why it is important to complete the screening test every two years, even if your previous result was negative.
To help ensure an accurate result, follow the test instructions carefully and return your samples promptly.
To ensure the accuracy of the iFOBT results, you need to make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
The earlier bowel cancer is found the better the chances of effective treatment. If detected early, bowel cancer can be treated successfully in 90% of cases. Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer and claims the lives of around 100 Australians every week. Bowel cancer takes more lives than breast, prostate, or skin cancer.
Currently only 42% of Australians do their bowel screening test and for men, it’s even lower at 40%. If we can increase and sustain participation at 60%, we could save 84,000 lives by 2040.