Do your bit. Use the kit
When it comes to bowel cancer screening in our community, we need to get our kit together. If detected early, more than 90% of cases can be treated successfully. For eligible community members aged 50-74, the kit is free and delivered right to your door. Despite this, many of us are simply not getting around to doing it and it’s increasing our community’s risk of bowel cancer. Do your bit. Use the kit.
IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR KIT TOGETHER
No ifs or butts about it, bowel cancer screening could save your life. This is a no mess, no stress test. Sassy Koori Queen, Nova Gina, and her crew are ready to press play and make your day. Watch our video and join the movement (literally).
Who needs to screen?
Who needs to screen?
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is a free Australian Government initiative that aims to reduce bowel cancer deaths through early detection of the disease.
From the age of 50, everybody, regardless of gender or sexuality, needs to screen for bowel cancer. Although there are ways to reduce your risk of bowel cancer (see below), age is the number one risk factor. So, once you hit the big 5 – 0, you need to be screening every two years, until the age of 74.
Screening for bowel cancer is quick, easy and free using the kit that arrives right to your door. All you have to do to use the kit, is do a poo (actually, two), collect a sample from each, and pop the samples in the mail using the reply-paid envelope provided. It’s free, quick, clean and easy and you can do it from home.
Bowel cancer screening among LGBTQ people
Since there is a lack of data on bowel cancer among LGBTQ people both in Australia and worldwide, ACON conducted research among LGBTQ people aged 50-74. Almost a third of those we spoke to had never used the screening kits that they had received. Also, 42% of those we spoke to mistakenly believe they are not at risk of developing bowel cancer, with a further 35% being neutral about their perceived risk. Age is the number one risk factor for bowel cancer (50+), which means that even if you don’t smoke or drink, you exercise regularly, or are vegetarian, you are still at a higher risk once you are 50+. We all need to start bowel cancer screening at age 50 and continue to screen every two years until we are 74.
Here at ACON we’ve developed a bowel cancer screening campaign (see above) specifically for LGBTQ people to help keep our communities safe and healthy.
Getting your results
When will I get my results?
The results are mailed to you and your doctor (if you provide their details). You will usually get your results within two weeks of posting your kit back. If you haven’t received your results within two weeks, you or your doctor can call the Bowel Screening Test Kit Helpline on 1800 930 998 to get your results.
Understanding you results
If your test is negative, there’s nothing you need to do until you receive the next kit in two years’ time.
If your test is positive (i.e. blood was detected in your poo), you will need to visit your doctor to discuss next steps. Your doctor will usually refer you for a colonoscopy to help identify the cause of bleeding.
Occasionally, a result might come back as inconclusive, meaning the lab can’t analyse your sample. In this case, you’ll be sent a new kit within 4 to 10 weeks, so you can re-do the test.
For more information about understanding your test results, click here.
How can I reduce my risk?
There are lots of ways you can reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
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Drinking less
Your risk of bowel cancer increases with the amount of alcohol you drink. We know that LGBTQ communities drink more than the general population, which is putting us at a higher risk of bowel cancer and other health issues.* Reducing your alcohol intake reduces your risk of bowel cancer. If you want to reduce or stop drinking or are concerned about your drinking, Pivot Point, ACON’s resource for LGBTQ people, is a good place to start.
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Diet and exercise
You can reduce your risk of bowel cancer (and many other health issues) through healthy eating and being physically active.
A high fibre diet can reduce your risk of bowel cancer. Aim for a high fibre diet which includes wholegrain, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts.
Regular exercise reduces the risk of bowel cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day where your heart rate is increased.
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Dairy Products
Consuming dairy products decreases your risk of bowel cancer. Evidence shows the more dairy products consumed the lower the risk of bowel cancer. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend mostly reduced fat dairy products for adults. If you are vegan or lactose intolerant, you might consider (vegan) calcium supplements instead.
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Less Red Meat
Eating too much red meat and in particular processed meat, such as bacon, salami and ham, and charred meat, such as barbecued meat, is strongly linked with a high risk of bowel cancer. Limiting the amount of red meat you eat will reduce your risk of bowel cancer. If barbecuing meat, cook on a low heat to avoid fat dropping onto the flame and charring (blackening) the meat.
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Smoking
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of cancer, including bowel cancer, and many other health issues. People who smoke not only have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer, but have a higher risk of dying from bowel cancer. We know that LGBTQ people smoke more than the general population and this is putting us at a higher risk of cancer and other diseases.* Giving up smoking will decrease your risk of many health issues, and it’s never too late to quit – your body starts repairing itself within 6 hours.** If you are thinking about reducing or quitting smoking, ICanQuit, is a great place to start.
* Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020. Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia. Cat. No. PHE 221. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 18 March 2021, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/about
** https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-7-cessation/7-1-health-and-other-benefits-of-quitting
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Risk factors you can’t change
Although there is lots you can do to reduce your risk of bowel cancer, there are some risk factors you can’t change, which is why it is so important to screen. Getting older is the number one risk factor for bowel cancer – your risk of bowel cancer increases greatly from the age of 50, so even though it’s not the most exciting 50th birthday present, do your bit and use the kit as soon as it arrives.
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Other factors
Other factors such as family history, history of polyps, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions may affect your risk of bowel cancer. If you have questions about your risk and what is right for you, talk to your doctor about bowel screening.
Symptoms and existing conditions
The bowel cancer screening kit is for people with no symptoms. If you are experiencing any symptoms of bowel cancer you need to see your doctor straight away.
Symptoms might include:
- Changes to your bowel habits (including diarrhea, constipation or changes to the consistency of your stool) or the feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely after a bowel movement
- Bleeding, or blood in your stool
- Persistent abdominal pain, bloating or cramping
- Weight loss
- Unexplained fatigue, breathlessness or feeling weak
- Anal or rectal pain
- Blood in your urine
You should talk to your doctor about whether to complete the bowel cancer screening kit if you:
- Have had a bowel condition in the last 12 months which is currently under treatment
- Have recently had a colonoscopy
- Are scheduled for a colonoscopy in the next few weeks
Don’t do the test if:
- You have your period, or you finished your period less than 3 days ago
- You have haemorrhoids (piles) that are bleeding