Bowel Cancer New Zealand (BCNZ) has welcomed the
continued rollout of bowel screening from age 58 across
Aotearoa, calling it an important step forward – while
urging political parties to confirm when screening will be
extended to age 45.
The latest rollout means more New
Zealanders now have access to free bowel screening, with
around 120,000 additional people now becoming eligible for
potentially life-saving tests.
BCNZ Chief Executive
Peter Huskinson says this marks limited but meaningful
progress, only part of the journey to clinically recommended
screening.
“This rollout covers the remaining
regions getting access to screening from age 58 following
changes announced last October – although we’re still
waiting on confirmation from Health New Zealand for one
final district,” says Huskinson.
“It’s a welcome
step, but in terms of how many people need screening
protection it’s only around one tenth of what’s needed
to deliver on the screening Kiwis urgently
need.”
Both major political parties committed ahead
of the 2023 election to align Aotearoa New Zealand with
Australia’s screening age – now 45. BCNZ says delivering
on that promise would significantly reduce bowel cancer
deaths.
“Matching Australia’s starting age will go
a long way to addressing the shocking scale of additional
bowel cancer deaths we see each year compared to our
neighbours – more than one thousand avoidable Kiwi deaths
since our government committed to match Australia’s
screening age. That death toll will continue to rise for
hundreds more Kiwi families each year until the
Government’s pledge is met,” says
Huskinson.
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“Screening at 45 would mean more than a
million more New Zealanders eligible for screening
protection – a major opportunity to save
lives.”
Bowel cancer remains New Zealand’s
second-deadliest cancer, claiming around 1,200 lives each
year – despite being up to 90 percent treatable when
detected early.
Huskinson is encouraging those newly
eligible to take up screening when invited.
“Once
they reach the age to be eligible, around six in ten people
complete the test, so there is a clear message to those who
have put it off. This is one of the most effective tools to
both detect and prevent bowel cancer – it’s a simple
test that can save your life.”
“Bowel cancer
typically develops gradually, over around 10 years, starting
as small growths called polyps. Screening doesn’t just
detect cancer earlier – follow-up investigations after a
positive screening test can lead to earlier and more
treatable diagnoses for those with cancer. It also helps
around ten times as many people by identifying and removing
polyps to prevent cancer before it begins. That’s
incredibly powerful.”
BCNZ says the combination of
expanded screening and improved diagnostic pathways is
encouraging – but momentum must continue and there is
widespread concern among patients and the public that
progress is slow.
“This is the first step towards
fulfilling the promise to screen from age 45,” says
Huskinson.
“Now all eyes are on our political
leaders to confirm precisely when that promise will be
delivered. With bowel cancer rates rising – particularly
in younger people – we Kiwis simply can’t afford to
wait.”
BCNZ says it will continue to advocate for
earlier screening and equitable access, so that all people
in Aotearoa New Zealand have the best chance of early
detection and survival.
For more information on bowel
screening, symptoms, and BCNZ’s advocacy work, visit bowelcancernz.org.nz
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