“In our district, 55 per cent of our participants are female but, in the statistics, almost the reverse is true,” Mr Keech said.

“Of all the people who screen positive, more than 50 per cent are male and less than 50 per cent are female.”

There are other quirky anomolies, too.

“In Tamworth, for example, a little over 1 per cent of people screen positive, not test positive,” he said.

Medical scientist Garnet Wood, who helps gather the kits from the chemists after people have returned them, said the latter meant it was extrememly important to test yourself every year.

Just because you might have had a negative screening test don’t automatically think you’re in the clear or haven’t got bowel cancer, he said.

That’s why men and women over the age of 40 need to be tested every year – especially as there’s a 90 per cent cure rate associated with early detection.

“We say 40 years or over, but if you have symptoms – such as blood in the stool, unexplained anaemia or changes in regularity – or a family history, you should see the doctor or do a test,” Mr Keech said.

It’s the first time Bowelscan month has been held in May in Tamworth.

“Our Rotary district 9650, has come into line with head office’s decision to coordinate 

Bowelscan month nationally,” Mr Keech said.

You can pick up a Bowelscan kit from any chemist in town – and then return it to the chemist.