The Bowel Screening Kit You Should Not Leave in the Cupboard

The test that is easy to postpone

Some health checks require an appointment, time away from work or an uncomfortable procedure. The free bowel screening test arrives at home and takes only a few minutes - yet it is one of the tests people are most likely to put aside for later.

That delay matters. Bowel cancer can develop without obvious symptoms, and screening is designed to find small traces of blood that cannot be seen. Detecting a cancer or pre-cancerous growth early can make treatment simpler and more successful.

Who is eligible?

Australians aged 45 to 74 can complete a free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test every two years.

People aged 50 to 74 are generally mailed a kit automatically. People aged 45 to 49 can request their first free kit through the National Cancer Screening Register. Eligible patients aged 45 to 74 can also ask their doctor or participating healthcare provider about obtaining a kit.

If your kit has not arrived, has expired, or was misplaced, a replacement can be requested. It is also worth checking that Medicare has your current postal address.

What does the test look for?

The home test checks two small stool samples for tiny traces of blood. This is called a faecal occult blood test, or FOBT. The blood may come from a cancer or pre-cancerous polyp, but it can also come from other non-cancerous conditions.

A positive result does not mean that you have bowel cancer. It means that further assessment is needed, usually beginning with an appointment with your GP and often a referral for colonoscopy.

A negative result is reassuring - but not a lifetime all-clear

A negative screening result means no blood was detected in the samples. For most people, the next routine screening test is due in two years.

Screening is intended for people without symptoms. Do not wait for the next kit if you develop rectal bleeding, a persistent change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, ongoing abdominal pain, or unexplained iron deficiency. These symptoms may have many causes, but they should be assessed.

Your family history also matters. Some people with a significant family history of bowel cancer need a different screening plan rather than relying only on the national home-testing program.

Why people put the kit off

It is understandable that collecting a stool sample is not appealing. In practice, the test is cleaner and simpler than many people expect, and the kit contains the equipment and instructions needed to complete it at home.

The more important comparison is not between doing the test and doing nothing today. It is between a few awkward minutes now and the possibility of finding a serious problem later, when treatment may be more complicated.

Taking the next step

If a bowel screening kit is sitting at home, check the expiry date and complete it. If you are aged 45 to 49, request your first kit. If you are aged 50 to 74 and have not received one, contact the National Cancer Screening Register or ask us about obtaining a kit.

For help completing the test, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program helpline is 1800 930 998. To discuss symptoms, family history or whether standard screening is appropriate for you, book with your GP at https://www.ripponleamedical.com.au/bookings or call Ripponlea Medical on 9531 0004.

This information is general in nature andis not intended to replace individual medical advice.

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