Health Economics Review of Bowel Cancer Screening in Australia: August 2008

01 Aug 2008
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Biennial screening is associated with 13–17 per cent reduced rates of bowel cancer mortality.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related death in NSW. Approximately one in 17 men and one in 26 women will develop bowel cancer before the age of 75.1 Population-based screening improves the likelihood of early detection of pre-cancerous lesions and early stage malignancies. Detection of pre-cancerous or early stage bowel cancers reduces morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. 

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is a nationally coordinated, population-based initiative that commenced in August 2006. The Program currently targets Australians who turn 55 or 65 years of age each year, and those who participated in the Bowel Cancer Screening Pilot Program.

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