Managing patients not suitable for the bowel screening program

Screening under the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program may not be suitable for all eligible people.

People may not be suitable for the program when they have:

• had a colonoscopy in the past 2 years
• symptoms of bowel cancer
• a strong family history of bowel cancer
• a personal history of bowel cancer or bowel disease.

Anyone concerned about or experiencing the signs or symptoms of bowel cancer should talk with their doctor as soon as possible.

Depending on their circumstances, people can:

• defer their screening test
• opt out of the program.

Doctors can also do this on their patients’ behalf by contacting the National Cancer Screening Register.