Only 2 in 5 people who receive the bowel cancer screening kit in NSW take the test. As primary care providers, you play a critical role in supporting more people to take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
If screening rates increased, thousands more lives could be saved. People who do the test are almost twice as likely to have their cancer found early, when it can be treated more effectively.
As primary care providers, you play a critical role in supporting patients on the bowel cancer screening pathway. Your partnership in the promotion of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is vital in detecting bowel cancers early, leading to the best possible outcomes for patients.
Resources available
A range of resources for community and health professionals is available on the Cancer Institute NSW website. This includes a flyer and poster designed for waiting rooms, making it easier for eligible patients to order a bowel cancer screening test kit. Keep a flyer handy so patients can scan when you recommend that they screen.
The Cancer Institute NSW has also designed a resource – the Primary Care Cancer Control Quality Improvement Toolkit – that aims to support ways in which cancer screening and prevention activities can be built into your practice or health service. It is accepted by RACGP and endorsed by APNA and NATTSIHWP.
