Bowel Cancer Screening
Detectacol
Bowel Cancer Screening Program
The Detectacol Bowel Cancer Screening Program isa self referral program that has been operating in South Australia for approximately a decade. The testing procedure is simple and inexpensive, yet over the years has been demonstrated to be very effective. If you are over 40 years of age, have a family history of bowel cancer or have been diagnosed as having polyps, you should consider participating in this program.
What causes bowel cancer?
Current research suggests that bowel cancer involves a series of changes to the cells lining the bowel wall. With these changes, normal cells become polyps which may then evolve into cancerous cells. Such changes may take many years to develop which is demonstrated by the fact that bowel cancer generally appears later in life. The results from the Detectacol Program over the last 10 years confirms this, with the number of cancers in participants peaking between the ages of 55 and 70 years.
The cause of these changes is not entirely understood, although it is thought that the contents of the intestine ie. food, bacteria etc may act directly on the cells over many years causing changes which result in cancer.
Diet and Cancer
There is a strong link between bowel cancer and western–style eating habits, eg. Japan has a very low incidence of bowel cancer compared to Australia, whilst those Japanese who relocated to the United States in the 1950’s now have an incidence of bowel cancer similar to that of other Americans.
The dietary component that has been implicated as being a major contributor to bowel cancer is fat. A low fat, high fibre diet may be beneficial in preventing bowel cancer, although there is no conclusive evidence to support this.
Screening
Another preventative strategy is to screen for bowel cancer enabling the detection of either polyps or cancer at an early stage when treatment is most effective. Polyps and cancers tend to bleed. The detection of blood in the faeces is a simple and inexpensive yet highly effective means of screening for polyps and cancer. Detectacol is highly specific for human blood and is capable of detecting minute amounts. It is not affected by diet or medications.
Annual testing provides the best opportunity to detect cancer or the presence of polyps which may develop into cancer. If a result is positive, it is strongly recommended that participants contact their local doctor who will initiate investigations into the cause of the blood loss. However, most participants produce a negative result, and they are encouraged to repeat the test on an annual basis.
How Does the Screening Program Work?
To participate in the program the following simple steps are followed:
- Purchase a Detectacol Kit from your local chemist.
- Collect a sample from each of 3 consecutive bowel motions into the collection tubes provided.
- Complete the patient information form.
- Pack into the pre paid envelope and post back to Medvet Science.
Upon receipt, these samples will be tested for the presence of blood using a highly specific and sensitive assay developed by Medvet Science and the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science.
Approximately 2 weeks after submitting your samples for testing, you will receive a report by mail. Note that you may also request that a copy of your results be forwarded to your local General Practitioner.
Once you have submitted your first samples your details will be entered onto our computer database and every 12 months we’ll send you a letter reminding you that it’s time to repeat the testing.
Remember: Regular monitoring is essential.