Queenslanders aged from 30 to 50 years can now buy an inexpensive bowel cancer test kit until June 16. It could save their lives.
Queensland Rotarians are offering sales online at only $17.50 per kit posted - in addition to sales via collaborating pharmacies at $15 per kit.
Anyone in Queensland can now buy a kit via www.bowelscanqueensland.org.au, which has lists of pharmacy stockists serviced by Rotarians, or details of the online service.
Completed kits can then be returned to any of the 200 sites of Sullivan and Nicolaides Pathology in Queensland towns and cities.
Bowel cancer test kits from pharmacies normally cost around $40 each. But, from May 1 to June 15, pharmacies collaborating with Rotary Clubs sell Rotary Bowelscan test kits for no profit.
Kits returned to pharmacies are sent to Sullivan and Nicolaides Pathology for free, confidential analysis and notification of both the patient and if positive, his or her doctor.
Queenslanders aged from 50 to 74 years can receive free bowel cancer test kits from the Australian Government.
About half of these kits are returned, and they reveal if a person has bowel polyps that lead to bowel cancer.
Rotarians believe that the 30 to 50 year age group missed by this free service is crucial – because it is this group in Australian society which can ill afford the family, business or career tragedy of an early death.
Queensland Rotarians from southside Brisbane westwards have been selling around 3,000 Rotary Bowelscan test kits a year.
They achieve an 85% return rate. It has led to early detection of more than 300 “positives” a year – which is estimated to have saved around 260 Queensland lives a year.
District 9630 of Rotary International now has a brief to sell online around Queensland. This season it will be trying to sell at least double the number of Rotary Bowelscan test kits – thus saving at least 500 Queenslanders from unexpected early death.
How common is bowel cancer in Australia?
In 2012, there were 14,958 new cases of bowel cancer diagnosed in Australia (8,239 males and 6,718 females).
In 2016, it is estimated that 17,520 new cases of bowel cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (9,815 males and 7,705 females).
In 2012, the age-standardised incidence rate was 59 cases per 100,000 persons (70 for males and 50 for females).
In 2016, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will be 62 cases per 100,000 persons (74 for males and 51 for females).
Bowel cancer was the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2012. It is estimated that it will become the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in 2016.
In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual being diagnosed with bowel cancer by their 85th birthday will be one in 12 (one in 10 males and one in 15 females).
Deaths from bowel cancer
In 2013, there were 4,162 deaths from bowel cancer in Australia (2,299 males and 1,863 females).
In 2016, it is estimated that this will decrease to 4,094 deaths (2,144 males and 1,950 females).
In 2013, the age-standardised mortality rate was 16 deaths per 100,000 persons (19 for males and 13 for females).
In 2016, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 14 deaths per 100,000 persons (16 for males and 12 for females).
In 2013, bowel cancer accounted for the 2nd highest number of deaths from cancer in Australia. It is estimated that it will remain the second most common cause of death from cancer in 2016.
In 2016, it is estimated that the risk of an individual dying from bowel cancer by their 85th birthday will be one in 52 (one in 45 for males and one in 62 for females).
