Cancer Screening

• Screening is one of the best ways to detect early signs of cancer in healthy people who don’t have symptoms. Breast and bowel screening are free through BreastScreen Australia and via your poo test kit in the mail. 💩Cervical screening is accessed through your GP, Aboriginal Health Centre or Women’s Health Clinic. Cancers detected early have much better outcomes. 🎉😃
  
  💠Bowel cancer: people aged 50–74 will be sent a free home test kit by the Australian Government every two years. Lockdown is the perfect time to get that test kit that you’ve been ignoring off the shelf, poke your poop with a stick, and pop it in the post! If the kit has expired, you can call 1800 627 701 and have a new one sent for free.
  
  💠Breast cancer: breast screening is recommended for women aged 50—74 and should be repeated every two years. Women aged 40–49 and over 74 can also access this service at pink mobile vans and BreastScreen Australia centres. You can book online or call 132 050.
  
  💠Cervical cancer: women and LGBTQI+ people with a cervix aged 25–74 are invited for cervical screening every 5 years unless you have new symptoms or an abnormal result to follow-up. No matter who you have had as a sexual partner or what your gender identity is, you're still at risk of cervical cancer. If you are overdue, now is the time to see your GP. There is a new self-collection test available for people over 30 who are more than 2 years overdue, and this might make it easier for you.
  
  🦠During COVID-19 lockdown, it’s so important to make sure your screening is up to date – don’t delay your tests by more than a month or two. We know from 2020 cancer screening data that many people put off their tests when the pandemic flared last year. This will result in later cancer diagnoses that are harder to treat and cure.
  
  ⚠️If you have a new symptom, such as a lump, or a change in your body that hasn’t gone away, talk to your GP. Despite lockdown, all GPs are still providing face-to-face care for those who need it.  
  
  I’ll break down each screening topic into more detail in future instalments! For more info now go to cancercouncil.org.au or health.gov.au
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