Bowel cancer screening in Australia

Abstract

Background: Modern screening tools have the potential to decrease mortality and morbidity from bowel cancer, the second commonest cause of cancer death. The evaluation of the recent National Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot Program (NBCSPP) in Australia has prompted the commonwealth government to fund the first phase of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in May 2006.

Objective: This article discusses the evidence for bowel cancer screening and the outcomes of the NBCSPP.

Discussion: Inexpensive tests are available to detect bleeding from the large bowel, a stronger indicator of early bowel cancer than symptoms, and pilot projects confirm their feasibility and acceptability in Australia. A doctor's recommendation strongly influences individual participation in screening. The medical profession are more likely to support an organised screening program if they are informed on the evidence on which the screening program is based.