New guidelines to shape the future of bowel cancer screening

MedTech & Diagnostics News: In a move that promises to redefine the landscape of bowel (colorectal) cancer screening, the Department of Health and Aged Care contracted Cancer Council Australia to review the clinical practice guidelines.

Cancer Council Australia’s draft guidelines, released for public consultation, includes the significant recommendation that the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) provide free iFOBTs (immunochemical faecal occult blood tests) every two years for individuals aged 45 – 74. This proposal is a ground-breaking step forward in the prevention and early detection of Australia’s second biggest cancer killer, bowel cancer.

Additionally, the draft guidelines suggest that individuals between the ages of 40 – 44 can request screening tests every two years through their general practitioner until they become eligible for the free testing program. This recommendation aligns with Bowel Cancer Australia’s persistent advocacy since 2018, recognising the rising rates of bowel cancer in people under 50.

Julian Wiggins, CEO of Bowel Cancer Australia, expressed his support for the proposed changes, noting that they have been actively campaigning for this shift. Bowel Cancer Australia has taken the initiative to fund research into early onset bowel cancer, even bringing affected patients to Canberra to meet with politicians and advocate for lowering the screening age. However, Mr Wiggins also emphasised the importance of finalising Cancer Council Australia’s draft recommendations, as they are currently open for public consultation until May 17.

Before the new guidelines can be implemented, they must receive endorsement from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Once approved, the government will need to allocate additional funding to cover the costs of the increased screening tests. This move would bring Australia in line with global practices, as the American Cancer Society changed its guidelines in 2018 to recommend screening from the age of 45.

The NBCSP was introduced incrementally from 2006. Statistics from 2020-2021 reveal that nearly 6.1 million people between the ages of 50 – 74 were sent screening tests, but only 25 million people participated, resulting in a participation rate of just 40.9%. Even at this lower than ideal participation rate, more than 4,000 colorectal cancers and more than 2,500 colorectal cancer deaths are prevented annually.

To ensure widespread input, public consultation on the draft chapters of the guideline is open until May 17 and feedback from the community is actively sought to shape the future of bowel cancer screening.

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub bringing the diversity of Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors together to inspire meaningful change.

The content on Health Industry Hub is copyright protected and should only be accessed under individual user licenses. To subscribe, please click here and visit T&Cs here.