Killer cancer declining as awareness rises in region

Andrew Mathieson
Tests positive for bowel cancer in the Geelong region are dropping in line with increasing awareness of the disease, according to figures from a campaign against the illness.
Rotary club member Max Davies said 180 tests came back positive in last year’s local Bowel Scan Month campaign, down 35 on Geelong’s long-term average.
But participation in the campaign the same year increased more than 350 to 7000 middle-aged and elderly residents who picked up self-testing bowel scan kits, he said.
“There definitely weren’t as many positives last year as the average – and we sent a letter to everybody who tests negative,” Mr Davies said.
Australian statistics show that one in every 18 men and one in 26 women will develop bowel cancer by the age of 75.
Bowel Scan Month volunteers recommend adults aged over 40 have annual tests for the killer cancer.
Mr Davies estimated that almost 100,000 Geelong residents in the age bracket were failing to undertake testing.
“We’re getting about seven per cent of residents participating in the Bowel Scan Month tests, which is not really a big percentage for the over 40s,” he said.
The Grovedale resident started helping the campaign after a cancer fright.
“I had a positive test about nine years ago but it was only polyps, which were removed,” Mr Davies said.
“I have a colonostrophy every two or three years now to check it out and still do bowel scan test, too.”
Bowel Scan Month runs during May, with testing kits available at pharmacies across the region. Participants return the kits with samples to the pharmacies for testing.
The Independent is a supporter of Bowel Scan Month.