New campaign launched to drive up bowel cancer screening rates

Queensland Health will use iconic Australian actor Shane Jacobson in a new bowel cancer screening campaign to encourage over 50s to ‘make No. 2 their No.1 priority’.

The Aussie actor - known as the host of Top Gear, the leading character in smash hit feature film Kenny and for his role as Swampy from the family box office hit Oddball - said he was passionate about raising awareness of how easy bowel screening kits were to use and how much of a difference they could make.

Bowel cancer kills around 1000 Queenslanders every year. When people turn 50 – and at intervals afterwards – they receive a free screening kit that helps detect bowel cancer early.

‘‘As I accelerate towards 50 myself, I figure there’s no better time to get on board with such a good cause,” Mr Jacobson said.  

‘‘If you’re over 50 your risk of bowel cancer increases but if detected early, treatment has up to a 90 per cent success rate.

‘‘To be honest, I’d rather stay ahead of the game by taking the free test in the comfort of my own home and if there is a positive result, the odds sounds pretty good if you get treatment early.  

‘‘The test is easy to use in the privacy of your own home. So to me it sounds simple – just get the test done. Make a date with your date.’’

Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services Cameron Dick said while around 450,000 Queenslanders were sent National Bowel Cancer Screening Program kits every year, less than 40 per cent returned them – and this rate is even less for men aged 50 years, with only around one in three completing the test.

‘‘The uptake of bowel cancer screening is a real problem in Queensland,” Mr Dick said.

‘‘A lot of people who receive the kit either forget about it or are hesitant to complete the test, which is a major concern because we know that bowel cancer can and does kill if not detected early.

‘‘Early detection is the best prevention, and if you’re 50 or over, bowel cancer screening should be a normal part of living a healthy lifestyle.

“And the reality is that most Queenslanders will not only return a negative result, but also get some peace of mind too.”

Mr Dick said the campaign would run during the end of the football season and during motorsport season in October, and again next year.

“It is my hope that adding Shane’s profile to this campaign will only strengthen the popularity and reach of these ads, which will be a key tool to spreading an important health message among all Queenslanders,” he said.

“Check out the advertisements online, share them far and wide and don’t forget to remind eligible friends and family to take the test.”

Four things you might not know about the bowel cancer screening process:

1. The kit is free
2. The kit comes in the mail after you turn 50
3. The test kit is easy to use in the privacy of your own home
4. The test helps to detect bowel cancer in its early stages, before symptoms appear

Queenslanders can check out the ad by visiting www.qld.gov.au/bowelscreen. The campaign will appear on TV, radio, social media, billboards and online.

For more information visit www.qld.gov.au/bowelscreen

ENDS

Media contact:   Anika Hume 0439 253 815