Let’s talk about something glamorous: POO.
More specifically, let’s talk about the bowel cancer screening kit that may currently be sitting unopened in a bathroom drawer, cupboard or somewhere under a stack of paperwork you’ve been meaning to deal with. If that sounds familiar, you’re certainly not alone.
The good news is that bowel cancer screening is free, simple and done at home. It looks for tiny traces of blood in your stool that you usually can’t see, helping detect possible signs of bowel cancer before symptoms develop. And while collecting two tiny samples of poo probably won’t make the highlight reel of your week, it may be one of the more important things you do for your health.
At Sage Medical West Footscray, preventative healthcare is an important part of what our GPs do. Bowel cancer screening is a particularly good example of why prevention matters because finding bowel cancer early can make an enormous difference.
Who is eligible for free bowel cancer screening?
Under Australia’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), eligible Australians aged 45 to 74 can complete a free bowel screening test every two years.
If you’re aged 50-74
You should automatically receive a free bowel screening kit in the mail every two years. The kit is sent to the address Medicare has recorded for you, so it’s worth making sure your details are up to date.
If you’re aged 45-49
You’re also eligible to screen for free, but your first kit is not automatically mailed to you. You can request a free kit through the NBCSP website or helpline (1800 627 701) to start managing your health sooner.
Once you’ve completed your first screening test, subsequent kits are generally sent automatically every two years while you remain eligible.
Why does bowel cancer screening matter?
Bowel cancer remains a major health issue in Australia.
Around 14,800 Australians were estimated to be diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2025, and approximately 5,200 Australians were expected to die from it. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. When bowel cancer is found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated. That’s why screening people who feel completely well is so important.
Bowel cancer can develop quietly, without obvious symptoms. Screening gives us an opportunity to find signs that something may be wrong before you would otherwise have any reason to visit your GP.
How does the bowel screening test work?
The test used by the NBCSP looks for very small amounts of blood in your stool. You collect two tiny samples from two separate bowel motions, place them in the supplied collection tubes and return them using the reply-paid envelope.
That’s essentially it. There are no needles, no bowel preparation, no fasting and no trip to hospital. You also don’t need to change your usual diet or medications before doing the test. It might feel slightly awkward the first time, but the whole process only takes a few minutes.
What is the test actually looking for?
Many bowel cancers begin as small growths in the bowel called polyps. Most polyps are not cancerous, but some can slowly change over time and develop into cancer. The screening test itself doesn’t diagnose cancer or find polyps. Instead, it detects tiny amounts of blood that may indicate something needs further investigation.
Results are generally available about two weeks after your samples are returned. If blood is detected, the next step will usually involve assessment by your GP and, if appropriate, referral for a colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy, a specialist can examine the inside of the bowel and remove many polyps at the same time.
In other words, screening may not only help find bowel cancer early, but it can also lead to the removal of a polyp before it becomes cancerous. It’s a little like checking the smoke alarm before you can smell smoke.
What increases the risk of bowel cancer?
Age is an important risk factor, and the likelihood of bowel cancer generally increases as we get older.
Other factors can also increase risk, including:
- a family history of bowel cancer or certain bowel polyps
- inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- a previous history of certain bowel polyps or bowel cancer
- smoking
- higher alcohol intake
- being physically inactive
- carrying excess body weight
- eating large amounts of red and particularly processed meat
Some of those factors we can change. Others, such as our age and family history, we obviously can’t. A healthy diet rich in fibre, vegetables, fruit and whole grains, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol are all sensible ways to help reduce bowel cancer risk.
When should you see your GP instead?
If you have symptoms, don’t wait for your next screening kit and don’t use a negative screening test as reassurance that everything is fine.
Please make an appointment with your GP if you notice:
- blood in your stool or bleeding from the rectum
- a persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhoea or constipation
- stools that are persistently narrower than usual
- ongoing abdominal pain, cramping or bloating
- unexplained weight loss
- persistent or unexplained tiredness
- unexplained iron deficiency or anaemia
- a feeling that you still need to open your bowels after you’ve been.
Most of these symptoms have causes other than bowel cancer. But they still deserve to be assessed. At Sage Medical, our GPs can talk through your symptoms, arrange appropriate testing and organise further investigation or specialist referral when needed.
What if bowel cancer runs in my family?
This is where a conversation with your GP becomes particularly important. The standard NBCSP test is designed for people at average risk. If a parent, sibling or child has had bowel cancer, particularly if they were diagnosed at a younger age, or if several members of your family have had bowel cancer or significant bowel polyps, you may need a different approach to screening. Your GP can assess your family history and determine whether earlier or more frequent investigation is appropriate.
Haven’t done your kit yet?
If there’s a bowel screening kit sitting somewhere at home, consider this your friendly reminder from Sage Medical to dig it out.
Check that it hasn’t expired, follow the instructions and get it done. It’s free. It takes only a few minutes. And it could genuinely save your life.
Sometimes looking after your health involves sophisticated medicine. And sometimes it involves a tiny plastic tube and a poo sample. Both count.
Book a consultation with one of GPs at Sage Medical
If you have any concerns at all, or noticed any of the above symptoms you can book av appointment to discuss this further with a doctor.
📞 Call us on 03 8606 3206
🌐 Or click here to book online
