Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in New Zealand and the fourth most common cause of cancer death. It is estimated that around 3,000 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed each year in New Zealand, and more than 1,200 people die from the disease. The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, which is why it is important for older people in New Zealand to have regular bowel screening.
Bowel screening is a simple test that can detect early signs of bowel cancer before any symptoms appear. The earlier bowel cancer is detected, the better the chances of successful treatment and recovery. Bowel screening can also detect polyps, which are small growths on the lining of the bowel that can develop into cancer over time. If polyps are detected and removed during screening, the risk of developing bowel cancer is reduced.
In New Zealand, the National Bowel Screening Programme offers free bowel screening to eligible people aged between 60 and 74 years. The programme uses a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which is a simple at-home test that looks for tiny amounts of blood in a stool sample. The test is easy to do and can be completed in the privacy of your own home. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis, and the results are sent to your doctor.
The free National Bowel Screening Programme is offered every two years to people aged 60 to 74 years who are eligible for publicly funded health care. Information on who is eligible for publicly funded health services is available on the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website or by phoning 0800 924 432 .
If the test result is positive, it does not necessarily mean that you have bowel cancer. It simply means that further testing is needed to investigate the cause of the blood in the stool. Further tests may include a colonoscopy, which is a procedure where a flexible tube with a camera is used to examine the bowel.
It is important to note that not everyone who has bowel cancer experiences symptoms; in fact, many people with early-stage bowel cancer have no symptoms at all. This is why regular bowel screening is so important, as it can detect early signs of the disease before symptoms appear.
Updated: 3 Apr 2024