Bowel cancer screening
Around 1 in 23 Australians will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime.
Dr. Lee encourages all healthy patients to participate in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBSCP). The program began in 2006 and since the start of 2020, the free simple to use test was offered for all eligible adults between the ages of 50 and 74 in two yearly intervals. The immunochemical Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) detects tiny traces of blood in your faeces, which may be a sign of cancer or polyps (pre-cancerous growths) in the colon. Early detection can lead to a much higher chance that cancers or polyps can be cured successfully.
Patients with a positive FOBT should discuss the result with their GP as soon as possible and in the majority of situations, a colonoscopy would be recommended. A referral from your GP will be required and a prioritised colonoscopy can be performed by Dr. Lee to guide necessary management.
For patients with a family history of bowel cancer or specific bowel cancer associated syndromes (Lynch Syndrome, Familial adenomatous polyposis, serrated polyposis syndrome, etc), bowel cancer screening via colonoscopy may be the recommended option. Please discuss this with your General Practitioner or Dr. Lee.
For further information:
