The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: time to achieve its potential to save lives.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Australia, affecting both men and women. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) began in 2006 with the aim of reducing the morbidity and mortality from bowel cancer in Australia. It is based on level I evidence of mortality reduction with screening using the faecal occult blood test (FOBT). Type of program or service: The NBCSP is a world-first national program using the immunochemical FOBT (iFOBT), beginning as a staged rollout limited to people aged 55 and 65 years. By 2020, rollout will be complete, with biennial screening for people aged between 50 and 74 years. The program is managed by the Austral..