LOCALS are being urged to “stop the taboo on poo” as a part of National Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.
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Throughout the month of June, locals are being urged to use bowel cancer screening kits to test for the early stages of the disease.
The encouragement comes from Primary Health Network CEO Richard Nankervis after statistics showed only 30 per cent of free screening tests sent out in the region were used.
“Up to 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if found early but sadly around 60 per cent of bowel cancers detected across our region are not found early,” Mr Nankervis said.
“Participation in population cancer screening programs is the single most important factor to reduce illness and mortality.”
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Recent statistics from Primary Health Network showed 1245 people from Gunnedah were invited to take part in early screenings but only 474 participated.
In other parts of the Gunnedah shire, only 240 people took part in the testing, despite 640 people being invited.
“Unfortunately across our region the rate of participation in the screening program is too low,” Mr Nankervis said.
“We have many communities with screening rates in the low 30 per cent range and the very best are only just over 50 per cent.
“We know many people are reluctant to have a conversation around bowels.
“In the words of comedian Dave O’Neill ‘It’s time to stop the taboo on poo’, too many of these kits remained unopened and ignored.”
The team from Boggabri Medical Centre are doing their bit for National Bowel Cancer awareness month by urging locals to take part in prevention screenings.
Recent statistics show only some of the free prevention kits mailed out to residents across the shire have been used, which has prompted the encouragement from Ochre Health GP Dr Oshi Gunawardhana.
“While it may not be pleasant to talk about, screening kits are the best way to detect issues early on,” Dr Gunawardhana said.
“If you come to us with an issue with bowel movements it is often too late.
“That’s why these kits are so important, they help detect a problem before you know there even is one and luckily bowel cancer is extremely preventable when detected early. So it is so important for people to use those screening kits.”
From next year all eligible people aged between 50 and 74 will be invited to screen every two years.
To check for screen eligibility www.cancerscreening.gov.au/eligibility