INTESTINE

A simple test may have saved his life

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Original article by Jill Margo
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 42 : 16-Jul-14

Kim Lee developed bowel cancer and died from it, but may have had the growth removed in time if it had been diagnosed earlier. Australians aged 50, 55, 60 and 65 are being sent test kits in the mail that require them to return two stool samples for analysis. If blood is present, further tests are advised. Only a third of the tests are actually used by the recipients. If diagnosed early, the survival rate for this type of cancer is 90%, and there are 15,000 cases each year

CORPORATES
BOWEL CANCER AUSTRALIA

Most at risk avoid bowel cancer kits

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Original article by Dan Harrison
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 13 : 24-Jun-14

Australians who turn 50, 55, 60 or 65 in that year receive a free bowel cancer screening kit in the mail from the Federal Government. However, data from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare indicate that a mere 33.5% return the required faecal sample. This is despite the fact that by age 85, some 10% of men and about 7% of women will die of the disease. Bowel cancer ranks second only behind lung cancer in terms of death rates. A consultation with a doctor was recommended to 7.5% of those who did send in a sample in 2012-13

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH