MidCentral Health promotes bowel screening
From late November 2019, MidCentral residents will benefit from the free bowel cancer screening programme.
This programme is for men and women aged 60-74. Screening is free for those who are eligible, as are any followup tests or treatment.
The roll-out of the Bowel Screening Programme was launched at MidCentral Health on November 14 by Minister of Health David Clark.
At the Dannevirke Men’s Health Car Show on November 10 MidCentral Health working with the Manawatu¯ Cancer Society and the Dannevirke Men’s Cancer Support Group to promote awareness of the disease and to explain the importance of screening.
It provided a walk-through colossal colon identifying key warning signs and talked about reducing the risk of bowel cancer through healthy eating, awareness of signs and symptoms, smoking cessation support and information about the Bowel Screening Programme.
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer, is any cancer that affects the colon (large bowel) and rectum (back passage). The disease kills over 1200 people every year.
People who are diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer, and who receive treatment early, have a 90 per cent chance of longterm survival.
MidCentral Health says bowel screening every two years can help save lives. A positive test can lead to a colonoscopy which may find and remove pre-cancerous polyps or detect bowel cancer at an early stage when it can be successfully treated.
Testing is done at home using a bowel screening test kit received through the mail. The kit is quick, easy and simple to do by yourself at home and returned by post.
Invitation letters will coincide with people’s birthdays, allowing for a constant and even flow of invitations over 24 months.
People who have a birthday with an even number (2, 4 and 6 of the month) will receive an invitation between late November 2019 and November 2020.
Those with an odd birthdate number ( 1, 3, 5 of the month) will receive an invitation between November 2020 and November 2021.
People who are having their 60th birthday will receive an invitation around the time of their birthday, regardless of their birthdate.
After a person has been invited for the first time, future correspondence will be based on their previous screening dates.
You do not need to register to participate in the screening programme. Anyone who is eligible to participate will automatically receive an invitation in the mail. However, people aged 60 to 74 years of age are encouraged to check that their address details are up to date with their GP.
People who are eligible are those entitled to receive public healthcare, and who are not currently receiving treatment, or surveillance for bowel cancer.
If you do have unusual bowel symptoms, don’t wait to be screened.
Screening is for people who have no symptoms of bowel cancer.
People of any age with unusual bowel symptoms should contact their doctor immediately.
It is anticipated that 58 cases of bowel cancer will be identified in the first two years of the MidCentral bowel screening programme, and that many of these will be in the early stage.
For more information of the National Bowel Screening Programme go to www.timetoscreen.nz or to talk to someone about the bowel screening programme call Freephone 0800 924 432.