NSW Bowel Cancer Screening Initiative Targets Country People at High Risk

02-Dec-2011 18 October 2011 - Preventing bowel cancer deaths in regional areas will be the focus of a ground breaking intervention program and research project to be conducted in the Riverina district.

The Gut Foundation, using a grant from prominent businessman John Singleton, has announced a 12-month program, centred on the Riverina area, which aims to significantly increase the rate of bowel screening to prevent bowel cancer deaths.

The program will be the first of its kind and aims to facilitate improved co-ordination to bowel cancer screening. It will jointly involve the newly established Murrumbidgee Medicare Local and Rotary NSW with the Gut Foundation employing health professionals to oversee the program.

An intensive media campaign will encourage people to be screened with Rotary’s Faecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT) kits. Positive tests will then be followed up with colonoscopies carried out by specialists in local public and private hospitals. Results of the campaign will be collated and the outcomes reported.

Gut Foundation President Prof Terry Bolin announced the initiative at a function in State Parliament today saying, “Deaths from bowel cancer in Australia are unacceptably high. We know from latest research that people living in the bush are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at a later stage than people living in big cities, meaning that their outcomes when diagnosed are less optimal than their city cousins.

“We need to work harder to get the message across about bowel cancer which is a preventable cancer that claims 12 Australian lives each day.

“The GUT Foundation is indebted to John Singleton, who has put some $200,000 behind this initiative, which will be devoted to this first-time rural intervention, in a programme that we expect will be life-saving.

“The program will begin in March 2012 and aims to recruit as many people as possible over the age of 40 for screening,” Prof Bolin said.

John Singleton said, “I’ve lost a couple of close mates to bowel cancer and I have a personal commitment to fighting the illness.  I just can’t understand why more isn’t done about bowel cancer.  The new intervention campaign is the first step but we’ve still got a long way to go.  All Australians, those that live in the country and the city, need to start talking about the disease.  We need to encourage our mates to stand up and take action and get checked out before it’s too late.”  

State Member for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire welcomed the announcement of the program and congratulated everyone involved. "In particular I extend my thanks on behalf of all Riverina residents to John Singleton whose generosity has made this program available," he said.

Also speaking at the launch of the program, comedian and university lecturer Tim Ferguson said his father’s early death from bowel cancer may have been prevented through such a program. Well known journalist, war correspondent and TV executive Tony Ferguson died at the age of 57 after years of symptoms went undiagnosed.

“I am a proud supporter of the GUT Foundation and its work in the community to prevent deaths through more targeted awareness campaigns and screening”, he said.

Nancye Piercy, Chief Executive Officer of the Murrumbidgee Medicare Local, said she welcomed the initiative and the opportunity to contribute to such an important health program. Nancye’s husband died of bowel cancer.  

The Federal government funds the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program which involves mailing FOBT kits to Australians aged 50, 55 and 65. While this is making inroads, only one in three eligible Australians are taking part in the program.

“Because the Riverina program is being run in conjunction with the Medicare Local in Wagga Wagga it will have a more hands-on approach and we hope will have greater impact,” Prof Bolin said.

“Colonoscopy is globally considered the gold standard when it comes to screening for bowel cancer. It has the potential to reduce mortality by 70%. It is preventative and can detect a polyp before it is cancerous. In making sure people proceed to this step we can save lives,” he added.

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Murrumbidgee Medicare Local
The Murrumbidgee Medicare Local has been established encompassing the Riverina Division of General Practice & Primary Health and Murrumbidgee General Practice Network.

The Australian Government is establishing a national network of Medicare Locals as a key component of National Health Reform.

Medicare Locals are independent organisations that will coordinate primary health care delivery and tackle local health care needs and service gaps. Medicare Locals will have a key role in driving improvement in primary health care and in ensuring services are better tailored to meet the needs of local communities. 

 

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