As Men's Health Week and Red Apple Day shine a spotlight on bowel cancer awareness and early detection, Australians are being urged to stop putting off bowel cancer screening and complete the free at-home test that could save their life.
Red Apple Day is Bowel Cancer Australia's Annual Giving Day raising awareness and funds to support the growing number Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, including 7,930 Aussie men.
Bowel cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer and claims the lives of around 54 men every week. Yet when detected early, more than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated.
Despite the effectiveness of screening, fewer than half of eligible Australians complete and return their free bowel cancer screening kit. National participation currently sits at just 41.7 per cent, with men consistently less likely than women to complete the test.
This Men's Health Week and Red Apple Day, we are encouraging more Australians to complete the free bowel cancer screening test and return their kit.
The Australian Government has expanded eligibility for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program by lowering the screening age to 45, ensuring more Australians can access free bowel cancer screening earlier.
Health experts estimate that if participation in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program reaches and remains at 60 per cent, more than 84,000 lives could be saved by 2040.
The free test can be completed at home in just a few minutes and detects tiny traces of blood in the stool, non-visible to the naked eye, that may be an early sign of bowel cancer, often before symptoms appear.
Australians aged 50 to 74 automatically receive a free bowel screening kit every two years, while Australians aged 45 to 49 can request their first free kit through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for Men’s Health, Dan Repacholi MP:
"One of the biggest challenges in men's health is that blokes put things off. Unfortunately, bowel cancer is one of those things that won't wait.
"Too many men see the kit arrive in the mail, stick it in a drawer and tell themselves they'll get around to it later.
"Red Apple Day is a reminder that a simple action today could make all the difference tomorrow. Completing your bowel screening test only takes a few minutes, but it could save your life.
"The reality is that bowel cancer is Australia's second biggest cancer killer, but if it's found early there's a very good chance it can be treated successfully.
“It’s shocking that less than half of these kits are being sent back. That means there are thousands of lives we could help save just by getting more people, especially blokes, to take it seriously.
"This Men's Health Week I'm encouraging every bloke over 45 to take a few minutes, do the test and send it back.
"It's free, it's simple, it can be done at home and it could save your life. There aren't many things that offer that sort of return.
"Looking after your health isn't weakness. It's making sure you're around longer for your family, your mates and your community."
Quotes attributable to Claire Clutterham MP:
“As a wife, step mum and Member of Parliament, I know how easy it is to spend time looking after everyone else. This Men’s Health Week it’s important we also take responsibility for our own health, because early detection can save your life.
“Life gets busy and it’s easier to put things off and say we’ll get to them later. But when it comes to your health, later isn’t always guaranteed. Completing a bowel screening test is quick, simple and can be done in the comfort of your home, and it has the potential to save lives.
“Healthy communities are built on healthy people, and no one can make your health a priority except you. This Men’s Health Week, I am encouraging every Sturt resident to take a few minutes and complete their bowel screening test.”
Quotes attributable to Julien Wiggins, CEO, Bowel Cancer Australia
“Today is Red Apple Day, Bowel Cancer Australia’s Annual Giving Day raising awareness and funds to support the growing number Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, including 7,930 Aussie men.
“Bowel cancer is estimated to be deadliest cancer among men under age 50.
“The risk of being diagnosed with bowel cancer before the age of 40 has more than doubled since the year 2000.
“International research shows the decade trend increase for early-onset bowel cancer in Australia, Canada, England, and the United States was 3.7% per annum among adults aged 20-49, and 7% per annum among young adults aged 20-39.
“If this trend continues, the researchers forecast a doubling of early-onset bowel cancer rates every 20 years in both sexes."