CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON SILENT KILLER

18 March 2008

One year on and an at home bowel cancer screening kit has already potentially saved the lives of nearly 70 Cairns residents, Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.

Mr Robertson said more than 7,500 kits had been distributed throughout the Cairns area as part of the joint State-Commonwealth Bowel Cancer Screening Program since it first began in the region in March 2007.

“Across Queensland approximately 55,000 or 40% of Queenslanders who received kits have participated in the program to date,” he said.

“While the take-up rate is good news for the program, the real success is the number of people who have received an early warning on this silent killer.

“Approximately 1,000 participants went on to have an assessment colonoscopy in a Queensland Health facility.

“Of these, just over 70 per cent had a growth (a precursor to bowel cancer) removed and 50 per cent had a pre-cancer detected and treated.

“Significantly, about 5 per cent of all participants in the program had bowel cancer detected and treatment undertaken as a result of the program.

“In the Cairns region alone 68 participants went on to have an assessment colonoscopy in the public sector.”

After returning his at home kit, Mareeba resident Noel Nielson was referred to have an assessment colonoscopy which revealed he had bowel cancer. Mr Nielson has since had surgery to remove the cancer.

“I was lucky to catch it in time before it had spread too far,’’ he said.

“I had no symptoms and, without the screening program, by the time I developed some and had noticed something was wrong, it might have been too late.

“I think everyone who gets the kit should use it.

“I’ve heard of some people throwing the screening kit in the bin when it
arrives in the mail. I can’t understand that. This is a simple procedure that could potentially save their lives.’’

Mr Robertson said under the screening program, both men and women turning either 55 or 65 years of age between May 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008 are being mailed a non-invasive testing kit known as a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).

“If the test finds an abnormality, people are then advised to see a GP for referral for further investigations, such as colonoscopy, to determine the cause,” he said.

“Research continually points to early detection being a crucial factor in the treatment of cancer – if you can detect it in its early stages, your options for treatment are greatly improved.

“Aside from leading a healthy lifestyle, cancer screening is the closest thing we have to the prevention of bowel cancer.”

Mr Robertson said the Queensland government has committed $10.4 million for Phase 1 of the state-wide Program to June 2008.

“Bowel cancer is currently Queensland’s most commonly diagnosed internal cancer in men and women combined, with those aged over 50 years most at risk,” Mr Robertson said.

“In most recent figures, there were 2,490 new cases diagnosed and 874 deaths in Queensland in just one year - the same research indicates one in 17 men and one in 27 women in Queensland will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime.

“If bowel cancer is detected early, the chance of surviving at least five years after diagnosis is around 90 per cent.

“With this non-invasive testing method, there really is no need for awkwardness or a sense of ‘taboo’ to get in the way of your health.

“I’d strongly encourage people who are eligible for the Program to not be embarrassed and to complete the kit.”

Further details about the screening program are available at www.health.qld.gov.au/bowelcancer or by phoning your local Queensland Bowel Cancer Screening Program team on 1300 766 927.

MEDIA AND TO CONTACT NOEL NIELSON: AMANDA FROUDE 3225 2680