Bowel cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, yet many remain unaware that the disease can show no symptoms until it’s advanced. The good news? Bowel cancer is highly treatable if detected early; more than 90 per cent of cases can be successfully treated.
As Bowel Cancer Awareness Month has started, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is urging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to start vital conversations about bowel cancer screening with their families, communities, and health workers at their local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO).
“When it comes to bowel cancer, silence is not an option,” said Pat Turner, CEO of NACCHO. “Far too many of our people are being diagnosed too late, because no one talked about it, or because they didn’t know the test existed. Screening must be routine, understood, and embraced by our communities. The solutions lie in our ACCHOs, in community control, and in changing the story around bowel cancer. This is about staying strong and alive, for ourselves, for our families, and for the generations to come.”
A free bowel screening test is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 45 to 74 through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. Kits can be accessed through local ACCHOs or health services.
This year’s campaign blends boldness with honesty to tackle taboo and reduce fear, featuring gender-specific health messages that encourage mob to start the conversation and learn how to use the test kit at home. It acknowledges cultural sensitivities, including the importance of having conversations in ways that respect gender and cultural context. It reinforces how community-led messaging through ACCHOs leads to stronger, more effective health outcomes.
“When we give our communities the tools, knowledge and power to act, we see results,” said Ms Turner. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the right to live long, healthy lives, and that starts with prevention. This campaign puts the power back in our hands by encouraging open, shame-free conversations about bowel cancer and showing our mob how easy it is to get tested.”
