North Dandenong Clinic on Gladstone Road, Dandenong, offers Bowel Cancer Screening for all patients. There are a number of options available to you, either :
- Complete the screening test procedure at the Clinic, or
- Work through the screening process in the comfort of your own home.
Regardless of your preference, it’s most important to do the test, as early detection of cancer can save lives. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer death in Australia. However, if detected early, 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated.
What are the Symptoms to look out for?
There are a number of different signs to look out for, that may indicate it’s time for a bowel screen test:
- A change in your toilet habits (eg constipation, diarrhoea);
- Blood in your stool;
- Stomach pain; and
- Unexplained weight loss.
If you notice any of the above, contact North Dandenong Clinic and book an appointment with a doctor. It’s important to have these symptoms evaluated by a professional.
Who is Eligible for a Bowel Cancer Screen Test?
The following patients are eligible for this test at the Clinic:
- If you are over the age of 45;
- Those patients with a family history of Bowel or Colon cancer;
- If you are suffering from unexplained weight loss; and/or
- The doctor recommends you have one.
What to Expect With Your Bowel Screening Test At The North Dandenong Clinic
The doctor will provide you with a test kit to use. It’s a simple and quick process which involves you taking samples of your stool. These will be submitted to a laboratory by the Clinic for analysis. You will need to wait approximately two weeks before the test results are available. The North Dandenong Clinic will get in contact with you should you need to have another appointment with the doctor.
Free Home Kit Available From The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
If you prefer, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program will provide you with a free home kit to use for sampling your stool. This will be sent to you in the mail. It’s an effective way to screen for bowel cancer. This test, known as the ‘Faecal Occult Blood Test’ (FOBT) looks for traces of blood in the stool which are invisible to the human eye and could be an indication of bowel cancer.
Who is Eligible for the National Bowel Screening Program?
All eligible Australians over the age of 45 will automatically be sent this free kit to their homes. Your test will arrive at the address listed on your Medicare card. Every two years you will be reminded by mail of the importance of conducting another bowel cancer test. The process is a quick, easy one and all details on what to do are included in the kit as well as on the website, cancer.org.au
FAQ:
Q1: How Can You Reduce Your Risk of Bowel Cancer?
There are a number of actions you can take to reduce your risk of cancer:
- Quit smoking;
- Ensure you have an active lifestyle;
- Eat a healthy diet;
- Limit your alcohol;
- Reduce eating red and processed meats; and
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
Q2: How does Bowel Cancer Develop?
Bowel Cancer develops from the inner lining of the bowel, when there are growths or polyps present. These polyps can become cancerous if they remain undetected.
Our recommendation at the North Dandenong Clinic is to keep healthy and continue to take the Bowel Screen Test every two years if you are over the age of 45. Bowel cancer can develop without any signs or symptoms, so it’s important to know that screening can assist with early detection and prevention.
