Early detection and cancer prevention

Through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, you may be able to get free bowel screening tests every 2 years.

It is a immunochemical faecal occult blood test that:

• can pick up early signs of bowel cancer
• looks for small amounts of blood that are invisible to the naked eye
• involves taking 2 to 3 samples of separate bowel motions (faeces).

You can do the test in the privacy of your own home using a test kit. It will include instructions to guide you through the process.

Who is eligible

You are eligible if you:

• are between 45 and 74 years old
• have a Medicare card
• are a Australian citizen, permanent migrant or register as a Department of Veteran Affairs customer
• have an Australian mailing address.

How to get the test

If you are aged between:

• 45 to 49, you can request your first test kit:
  • online via the National Cancer Screening Register website
  • by calling 1800 627 701
• 50 to 74, you will continue to receive a test kit in the mail every 2 years:
  • to check when you will receive your test kit, go to the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

You can also ask your general practitioner (GP) for a test kit.

Your results

If blood is detected, your result is positive. About one in 13 people will have a positive result.

This may be due to conditions other than cancer, such as:

• polyps
• haemorrhoids or
• inflammation of the bowel.

The cause of bleeding will need to be further investigated.

More information

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aged Care website.

You can read more about the program and access relevant contacts if you need help.