Study reveals low participation in free bowel cancer screening kit program

Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world with about 16,000 people being diagnosed with the disease every year.

Since 2006, the Federal Department of Health has funded free, at-home testing kits for people between the ages of 50 and 75.

These are the tests which require you to send back a stool sample for screening, which is seen as one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer.

But a recent study by the Cancer Institute of New South Wales has found about 40 per cent of people who received the potentially life-saving screening kits last year didn't use it.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/low-participation-in-free-bowel-cancer-screening-kit-program/9661824