Scan saves many a life

Toilet humour can make kindergarten children giggle but for Australians over the age of 50, bowel cancer is a serious issue.
According to Rotary Bowelscan, bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer- related deaths in Australia, after lung cancer, and while it kills more Australians each year than breast or prostate cancer, early detection through screening can vastly improve survival rates.
In the fight to reduce the impact of this disease, Rotary Bowelscan is making bowel screening kits available in community pharmacies until 31 May.
Rotary Bowelscan is a pharmacy-based bowel cancer awareness, education and screening program that provide accessible screening kits for “average risk patients”.
An average risk patient, according to Rotary Bowelscan, includes men and women aged 50 years and older with no symptoms, and no personal or family history of either bowel cancer or polyps.
Following the use of a Rotary Bowelscan kit, all positive results are passed on to the patient’s doctor, who will initiate further investigations such as a colonoscopy.
Bowelscan kits are available in your local pharmacy and are only $8.