Bowel screening in Southern district detects over 370 cancers, saves lives

Over 370 cancers have been detected in the Southern district since the National Bowel Screening Programme was launched in the region in April 2018.

That’s according to the latest figures from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora as the Southern district launches its Oamaru Bowel Screening Awareness Month this weekend with a community pop-up event.

Health NZ gastroenterologist and National Bowel Screening Programme clinical lead Dr Susan Parry says at least a third of the cancers found were at an early stage, when they can often be successfully treated.

“This means lives are being saved and some whānau have been spared the loss of a parent, grandparent or other loved one.”

Dr Parry says more than 118,000 people in the district have successfully completed and returned a test kit since the programme began, with 377 found to have bowel cancer.

“The test can help detect bowel cancer early before you have any symptoms, so we want to encourage everyone who gets a bowel cancer test kit in the mail to please do it. It only takes a few minutes, is easy to do at home and could save your life.”

Nationally, almost 1.2 million people have completed and returned a test, resulting in more than 35,000 colonoscopies and the detection of more than 2,500 cancers.

Bowel screening test kits are delivered every two years to people aged between 60 and 74.

Health NZ’s Southern Bowel Screening Programme manager, Emma Bell, says local teams will be out in Oamaru this weekend encouraging people to take part in screening.

Saturday’s event at The Warehouse will include a large “inflatable bowel” to help people learn about signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, steps they can take to help keep their bowel healthy, and what they should do if they have a family history of bowel cancer.

Bell says people with symptoms, such as a change in their normal bowel habit that continues for several weeks or blood in their bowel motions, should see their doctor.