As 2025 comes to a close, it's the perfect time to check in on your health and set yourself up for a strong start to the new year. One of the simplest and most effective steps you can take to achieve this, is to make sure you are up to date with your health checks. For people aged 45-74 that includes completing your bowel cancer screening test.
People aged 45 to 49 can now request their first bowel cancer screening kit through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP), a change that could help save lives through earlier detection.
However, participation has started off low. Within the first six months of the program of the 181, 799 eligible West Australians aged 45 to 49, only 8509 kits were ordered - which is only 4.7 per cent. This means tens of thousands of people are missing out on a potentially life-saving test.
Bowel cancer remains a major health concern. It is second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia. The good news is that if detected early, bowel cancer is highly treatable. Regular screening is the most effective way to find the disease early, when treatment is more likely to be successful and outcomes are significantly improved.
The test is free, done at home, and takes just a few minutes, yet it could make all the difference, something well-known to Anna and Nick.
Anna and Nick's experience
When Nick turned 45, his wife Anna decided to take one simple but important step for their family's health, she ordered Nick a free bowel cancer screening kit through the NBCSP.
"At first, Nick didn't know much about bowel screening," Anna recalls. "But when I explained how easy and important it was, he thought, why not?"
Just a few weeks later, the kit arrived in the mail. Nick needed a couple of reminders but did the kit by the end of the week.
"You just follow the instructions in the comfort of your own home, send it off, and that's it," Nick says. "It's good to have one more health check ticked off the list."
For Anna, encouraging Nick to take the test was about peace of mind.
"Life is so busy, and sometimes we forget to prioritise our health," she says. "Ordering a screening kit for Nick was something simple I could do for the wellbeing of our family."
Anna and Nick's message is simple – if you or someone you love is eligible, don't wait. Have a chat, offer a little encouragement, and make bowel cancer screening part of your end-of-year routine.
It's simple, free, and could save your life.
If you're aged 45 to 49, you can request your free kit by visiting www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest, calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701, or asking your doctor.
If you're aged 50 to 74, you'll continue to receive your bowel cancer screening kit automatically in the mail every two years. If you have misplaced your kit or it has expired, you can easily request a replacement kit by contacting the National Cancer Screening Register.
So, before the year ends, tick one of the easiest things off your checklist and do your bowel screening test.
Curious about how the kit works?
Instructions:
- The test kit arrives in your mailbox or is given to you by your doctor.
- Take a small sample from two separate bowel movements using the test kit tubes provided.
- Do it in the comfort of your bathroom (yes - it's quick and discreet!).
- Pop your samples in the post with your details - done and dusted.
If you are concerned about your bowel cancer risk or have a family history of bowel cancer, talk to your doctor before participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
