NBCSP video transcript
Bowel Cancer – the facts
Here in Australia Bowel Cancer is on the rise. And is second only to lung cancer in the number
of Australians it kills. Right now, around 80 Australians die from bowel cancer every week. And
most of those deaths could have been prevented by early detection … even symptoms appear.
Bowel cancer begins when cells in the bowel lining grow too quickly. These growths are often
benign. But over time some growths become cancerous. Your risk of developing bowel cancer is
increased by factors like ageing, smoking, excess alcohol intake, unhealthy diet and lack of
exercise. And most people who develop bowel cancer have no family history of the disease.
If left untreated, cancers can develop and then spread to other parts of the body. However, if
caught early enough most bowel cancers can be successfully removed, and you have up to a
90% chance of survival.
That’s why the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is so important.
The free and easy Bowel Cancer Screening Kit can detect bowel cancer even before it forms.
So far, almost 2 million Australians have taken the test - and we’re expanding the program. By
2020 all Australians between the ages of 50 and 74 will receive a free bowel cancer screening
kit every two years. Research has estimated that this could save up to 35,000 lives over the next
forty years
So when your free National Bowel Cancer Screening Kit arrives in the mail. Don’t ignore it. See
it as the gift it is. A gift that could save your life.
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