Bowel Cancer

Australia has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world. Around 17,000 people are diagnosed each year. It is the second most common cause of cancer mortality (after lung cancer), yet, if detected early 9/10 cases of bowel cancer can be successfully treated.

Population screening is the ‘use of simple tests across a healthy population in order to identify individuals who have disease, but do not yet have symptoms’ (WHO 2015). Randomised controlled trials have clearly established that screening asymptomatic populations with immunochemical faecal occult blood testing (iFOBT) biennially reduces mortality due to bowel cancer.

Screening target group: Non-symptomatic men and women aged 50-74yrs considered average risk for bowel cancer.

Screening frequency: Every 2 years

National participation rates are around 41%. NSW participation rates however are lower than this and some parts of the CESPHN region have participation rates below 30%.

Resources for health professionals ( including guidelines,template links)

Clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, early detection and management of colorectal cancer (2017): Short Form:
Using the bowel screening home test kit in English and other languages
Other translated bowel screening resources
NBCSP: Frequently asked questions about the program (101 KB)
NBCSP How to improve participation in your practice
Provision of Payments

GP endorsement letter – Help increase cancer screening participation in your practice

There is one evidence- based initiative which is the use of a GP endorsement letter. This is a letter that is sent out from the GP practice to the eligible population, before their 50th birthday, that is essentially, a recommendation from the practice GPs that the patient participate in the bowel screening program when the kit arrives.

Click here for letter template. This could be sent as an email or letter. The NBCSP would consider formatting a SMS message, if this would be useful for your practice please email l.walker@cesphn.com.au

45-49-year-old health check (MBS item)

As has been recommended by the NBCSP and the Cancer Institute, this health check could be the perfect opportunity to discuss bowel cancer screening (which is not mentioned on some of the software templates for this health check and could be added) or at least to hand out a resource to improve health literacy around cancer screening programs before the age of 50 years.

Rapid Assessment for FOBT +ve Patients with Streamline to St George Hospital Public Colonoscopy Lists

This new service improves the timeliness of colonoscopies for patients with positive FOBT. This will be done by getting fast access to the colonoscopy lists for patients in the public hospital, using a telephone Nurse-Led clinic model. The CNC will liaise with Gastroenterologists on your behalf to facilitate quick response for your patients, with the CNC your first point of call if you have any concerns.

Advantages:

Reduced wait time between a +ve FOBT and outpatient colonoscopy within the public hospital setting.
Streamlined, fast effective access to colonoscopies for outpatients.

Suitable referrals:

Direct referrals from GP’s of asymptomatic +ve FOBT patients OR
Patients who have had previous cancer or polyp resections, and are due for their follow-up colonoscopies.

Please contact: Sarah Rolls (Gastro CNC) Ph: 9113-2194 Fax: 9113-1290 or FAST TRACK REFERRAL FORM available here (283 KB)

Information for health professionals to give to consumers

How to do the test : VIDEO . This video is available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Tamil and Vietnamese. Click here to locate language required.
Patient Information Booklet in 22 languages: Click here to locate language required
Screening with a disability – Cervical, breast and bowel screening is important for all people, but we know that people with intellectual disability are not screened as often as they should. FPNSW have produced screening resources for people with an intellectual disability.

Key contacts and support services ( including peak bodies)

Cancer Institute NSW
National Bowel Screening Program (NBCSP) – The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) was launched in 2006 to address the rising incidence of bowel cancer and significant mortality due to bowel cancer. In line with national programs in other countries, the NBCSP sends out faecal occult blood testing kits to the homes of the population when they reach 50 years and then will be sending them every two years from then on in until age 74 (the program has been phasing in 2-yearly screening and by 2020 this will be complete).
The test is completed at home as per the instructions included in the kit and sent to the laboratory free of charge. Results are provided to the individual directly, as well as to their nominated GP (individuals must document their GP details on the form) and data is collected on the National Register . Those who receive a positive test result are advised to speak to their GP and the Participant Follow up Function is activated by the NBCSP to ensure that participants testing positive have been followed up appropriately.