This men’s health week let’s look at bowel cancer screening!
Bowel cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the second deadliest. Around 15,000 Australians are diagnosed annually. That represents a lifetime risk of around 1 in 20 by the time we’re 85.
Men have a slightly higher risk of diagnosis and a slightly higher mortality rate – and that’s probably reflecting in the fact that we don’t see them come into the GP as often as we do women.
It’s treatable if it’s caught early! And we have a great detection program in Australia.
If you’re over 50 you’ll know the government mails you out a test kit (what a lot of you call your “poo kit”) every two years. I know I know, it’s a bit yucky to do but it is a pretty easy once you get past that.
Unfortunately only 47% of people are doing them, and only 36% of men.
If we can get that number higher we could save so many more lives.
The government has recently expanded this program to anyone over 45 but they won’t send the kit out to you automatically, you need to apply for one, the link for that is in this post – please do it!
It’s also important to note that there’s a different type of screening if you have a family history of bowel cancer (and sometimes other cancers can be linked as well, and sometimes if you have other bowel diseases like coeliac or inflammatory bowel), please come in for a chat if you do so I or your GP can personalise your surveillance.
You’ve probably also noticed in the media recently there’s been a lot of discussion about the rising incidence of bowel cancer in the under 40 age group. While there’s no specific government funded screening program at the moment, there are options. If you have concerning symptoms, definitely come in for a chat, and if you want to talk about this further – I’m all ears.
If my statistics are anything to go by – most of you are women, so this might fall on the wrong audience but, a timely reminder to encourage the men in your life to do that poo kit and see their GP. (Me obvs 😘🤣).
Dr Gillian Riley 
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