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All Australians turning 50, 55 or 65, who hold a Medicare card or DVA gold card will be eligible for the Program.
If eligible, you will be sent an invitation pack from the Australian Government to your current Medicare-registered address. The pack contains: an invitation letter, a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) kit with instructions, an information booklet and a Participant Details Form. All eligible people who turn 50, 55 or 65 years of age within Queensland will be invited to participate in the Program.
To send invitations to participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, Medicare Australia selected eligible people turning 50, 55 or 65 years of age from either Medicare enrolment records or the Department of Veterans' Affairs enrolment file as authorised by a service arrangement under subsection 7(2) of the Medicare Australia Act 1973.
Your personal information and test results will be kept private and confidential. Information kept on the Register is protected by law (the Privacy Act 1988), and your personal details will only be released to another person or organisation with your consent, or if required or authorised by law.
If you think you have symptoms you should consult your doctor for clinical diagnosis and advice as soon as possible.
If you have received an invitation to participate in the Program but:
It is recommended that people over 50, with no symptoms, should be completing a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) every 2 years. Where eligible, people should participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Those who are not yet eligible for the Program and are aged 50 and over are encouraged to complete an FOBT through their GP. Alternatively an FOBT can be purchased from some pharmacies or via the Bowel Cancer Australia website. It is importat if purchasing an FOBT that it is an 'immunochemical' FOBT rather than a 'guaiac' FOBT. Immunochemical tests do not require you to change your diet or stop any medications before doing the test. Guaiac test require dietary and medication changes prior to the test.
Anyone with symptoms or a family history of bowel cancer are advised to see their GP promptly.
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