In a year where we’ve all become more health-conscious and learned the correct way to use masks and wash our hands, we’re being encouraged to remember the other life-saving initiatives also on offer — such as cancer screening.
The National Bowel Screening Programme, already operating in most other DHBs, is now being rolled out to people aged between 60 and 74 living in the ADHB area. People in this age range are mailed the test kit to do at home and send back free by mail to the testing laboratory. The great thing about this programme is it can find bowel cancer before symptoms even begin. Finding and removing pre-cancerous polyps (growths on the bowel) can also prevent the development of cancer in the future.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the OECD and is the second highest cause of cancer death in the country. Bowel screening aims to find cancers early, when they can successfully be treated. People who are diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer, and who receive treatment early, have a 90% chance of long-term survival.
Invitations to participate in the programme will now begin to appear in the letterboxes of those eligible (dependent on their birthdate) and continue on a two-yearly cycle.
Programme manager, Gaye Tozer, says: “More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer annually in New Zealand, with 1,200 people dying from this disease each year. We want to see ADHB residents stay out of those statistics. Please make sure your doctor has your up-to-date contact details and do the test when it arrives.”
Screening is for people who do not have symptoms of bowel cancer. Anyone with symptoms should see their doctor.
For more information, contact
National Bowel Screening Programme • 0800 924 432 • timetoscreen.nz
Matthew Wallace • ADHB Bowel Screening Project Manager • 021 351 277
