1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: Let me ask you, have you done your bow screening test? 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: If you have one to do, if you've had one 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: to do in the last two years, have you completed 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: it posted it back? I can tell you I have. 5 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: But the numbers that actually participate has fallen again, and 6 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: that is concerning health experts and patient advocates. Because the 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: report from the Institute of Health and Welfare reveals six 8 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: million Australians aged fifty to seventy four were invited to 9 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 1: take part in the free program, yet only forty percent 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: completed the test. Concerns also raised about the time it 11 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: takes patients with a positive result to receive a colonoscopy. 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,959 Speaker 1: The CEO of Bow Cancer Australia, Julian Wiggins, is on 13 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: the line. Julian, good morning. What's the issue with it? 14 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: Why would people not do this? Oh? 15 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 2: Good morning, Matthew, good question. The test is free, sent 16 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 2: in the mail. It arrived when you turn fifty every 17 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: two years thereafter based on your Medicare card. There really 18 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 2: isn't a reason apart from the fact that people just 19 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 2: don't do it. Maybe there is any factor, but I'm 20 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 2: not sure exactly why people don't do it. 21 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: Okay, it is yucky, I suppose to some degree. But 22 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: you know, once you've done it, once you know what 23 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 1: to expect, it's not not terrible. You're not diving into 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: the bowl head first. 25 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,199 Speaker 2: Certainly get correct, and the report shows that once people 26 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: have done the test the first time, they certainly do 27 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: with the test again when it arrives. It's just getting 28 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 2: over that initial barrier. Said, yes, you do need to 29 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:31,119 Speaker 2: poke to twice and send it back in the mail, 30 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: but really it could save your life. 31 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's exactly it. And I got to admit, 32 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, you're ad that says have you shoved it 33 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: in the drawer and sort of half forgotten about it? 34 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: And whatever? That's me, right, I do put it aside. 35 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: I'll get around to it. It's not I don't have 36 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: to do it today. I'll get around to it and 37 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 1: then eventually at some point, and it could be I 38 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: think the last one was four or five months later 39 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: I did it, and the second or third one I've 40 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: done along the way. So yeah, not real quick at 41 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: returning it. Maybe that's the issue. Maybe they just haven't 42 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: returned them. 43 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: Oh, quite possible, and also too if they have been 44 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 2: lying around excuse me, in you draw look at the 45 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 2: expiry date before you do the test. Really, they do 46 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: have the shelf life of two years, and if it 47 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 2: has inspired because it's been lying around, you can request 48 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: another free test. Tip from the government. 49 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: Okay, we know bow cancer. It can be deadly, obviously, 50 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: but if you get it early, it is one of 51 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: the easiest things to treat well. 52 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 2: When it comes to bow cancer. Ninety nine percent of 53 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 2: bow cancer cases can be successfully treated, But the real 54 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 2: key is when it is detected early, and that is 55 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: what a screening program is designed to do. It looks 56 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: for blood in the stool, but you can't see it 57 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: with the eye, so it's that microscopic blood. A positive 58 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,079 Speaker 2: test from the kit doesn't mean you actually have bow cancer. 59 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: It just means that blood is present and it needs 60 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: further investigation via klonoscopy. It could be totally unrelated. It 61 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 2: could be a pollop for example, and if a polyp 62 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: is found, it can be removed during klonosophy and that 63 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 2: polyp will never become cancer. Or it could be an 64 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 2: early stage cancer. And that's what we're looking for as well, 65 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: because we know that ninety nine percent of cases can 66 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 2: be successfully crickd WHNS dound early. 67 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: And second deadly is cancer after lung cancer I see, 68 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,119 Speaker 1: which is pretty frightening. And given this test is sent out, 69 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: you don't even have to ask for it. All you 70 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 1: got to do is do it and return it. It's 71 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: the easiest thing you could possibly do that could save 72 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: your life potentially. 73 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: And certainly in the privacy of your own home, and 74 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: only yourself and your GP really need to know about 75 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: it if you don't tell anybody else. 76 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, early on set rates now these are 77 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: going up. What's happening with that? What do we know why? 78 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: So younger people being diagnosed. 79 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: Well, certainly the rates are rising for people under the 80 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: age of fifty, which is early onset bow cancer. We 81 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: don't exactly know why those rates are rising. And certainly 82 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 2: there has been a response with the screening program because 83 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 2: from one July, people from forty five to forty nine 84 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: can actually opt in to receive a free test kit, 85 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: and people from forty to forty four can actually request 86 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 2: one now from their GP as well. So there has 87 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 2: been some movement because of the early rising races early 88 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: on set bow cancer. As I said, we don't know why, 89 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: but it does claim it is the deaviest cancer for 90 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: people age twenty five to forty four, and over seventeen 91 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: hundred young people are diagnosed, which are disease every years. 92 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: That's terrible, isn't it. Is it changes in diet over 93 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 1: the last I don't know, fifty years. I suppose that 94 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 1: it was that we probably know about it sooner than now. 95 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: A possible diet and lifestyle is often cited, but you're 96 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: looking at people under the age of fifty and so 97 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: certainly people in their twenties and thirties may not have 98 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 2: been around on the planet long enough the people in 99 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: the sixties and seventies to have a diet and lifestyle factor. 100 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 2: So there could be other things like environmental factors of play, 101 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: certainly bood chain process and things like that, a raft things, 102 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: possibly could be anything, but at this point we really 103 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: don't know why there's rising rates. 104 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 1: In younger people, and of course they don't have the 105 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: benefit of a test though it's usually I imagine more advanced 106 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: when it is diagnosed, because no one's going to think 107 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: I've got bow cancer at twenty five. 108 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 2: Oh, that's correct, And typically younger people present with symptoms 109 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: up to their GP and that's why the symptoms need 110 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: to be investigated promptly with access to colonoscopy for younger people, 111 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 2: because once you do see visible blood for example, or 112 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: have other symptoms, the cancer could be more advanced. 113 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, indeed, all right, Julian, appreciate the update there, and 114 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: of course a reminder for anyone who's got one of 115 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: these envelopes sitting in a drawer or propped up against 116 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: the kitchen cupboard or whatever it might be, get on. 117 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: And do it exactly. 118 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: Thank you Julian Wiggans there, who is CEO Beow Cancer Australia. 119 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: So return your test and it could very well save 120 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 1: your life. I recall I was going to give you 121 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: the name, but I better not just in out of 122 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: an abundance of caution. But somebody who received the test thought, hey, 123 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: I'll get around to doing it. Did it came back 124 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,280 Speaker 1: positive and it did save his life because had he 125 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: not done it, it would have advanced. I had to 126 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: have a major operation. But anyway, there we go, so 127 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: important message. But he's okay, and that's important. Pam at 128 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: west Lake. 129 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 3: Morning, good morning. I just want to pass on some information. 130 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 3: It's funny how these subjects just come up today. I 131 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 3: have I'm sixty four, nearly sixty five, and I've never 132 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 3: received one of the free kids really, so I had 133 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: to actually go online and apply for it. I've been 134 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 3: waiting to receive one and hadn't done it. And I 135 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,040 Speaker 3: went online and applied to one and then received a 136 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: letter yesterday and I rang them up. I rang the 137 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 3: phone number, the contact number, saying, look, how come I've 138 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 3: never received them? She said, I'm not on the register 139 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 3: and she was going to look into it. So I 140 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 3: think it's up to us sometimes to actually do the 141 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 3: homework a bit too, because and my husband's never received 142 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,920 Speaker 3: one either. So as much as they say we send 143 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,039 Speaker 3: them out and about this, they don't necessarily do that. And 144 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 3: unfortunately sometimes there are holes that things fall through. 145 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, Bell Cancer Australia or one word dot org 146 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: or the HELPLINEAM eighteen hundred and seventy two seven three 147 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: three six. 148 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 3: That's the one I now, fantastic. I suppose I lovely 149 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 3: lady yesterday and she's going to look into how come 150 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 3: I'm not on the register and we'll be sending one 151 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 3: out as soon as possible. 152 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: Okay, there we go. Good, Well, make sure you get 153 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 1: onto a PAM thank you. Enjoy all right, Bob, you've 154 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: never received one either, pub have. 155 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 2: One mate up until well my last one, and I'm. 156 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 3: Mighty won there. 157 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: Okay, I don't worry about sending you one anymore. What's 158 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 2: the situation then? Just too old or well. 159 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: I don't know. Maybe that's what it is. Maybe they 160 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: look at average life expectancies and say, if the average 161 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: bloke in Australia lives to what eighty four I think 162 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: the latest figures were, then then at eighty well you'll 163 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: probably out, you know, out survive the. 164 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly right, Yeah that's what I thought there, But 165 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 3: eighty four I don't feel so good there. 166 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,040 Speaker 1: Hey, Bob, hold on there because we've got Julian on 167 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: the line still. I think, Julian, good morning. You're still there, Yes, 168 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: I am. What do you say to Bob? 169 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 2: Well, in terms, Bob, the program is for ages fifty 170 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 2: to seventy four. It's based on a population screening program ages. However, 171 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 2: from seventy five to eighty five you can actually request 172 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: to test it still from your GP in the discussion, 173 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:29,040 Speaker 2: having a discussion with them, but it won't be through 174 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: the program. It needs to be through your GP, and 175 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 2: it can be bulk fuilled. Okay, okay, yeah, now what's 176 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 2: the price on that. That'll be a couple hundred dollars? 177 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: Well buck build bob. 178 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 3: Oh sorry ah right right, yeah, well fair enough, I'll 179 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 3: do that. 180 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 2: There you go, pop along to your GP. Yes they will, 181 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 2: not a problem. 182 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: Good on your bob, Thank you, great question. Glad you 183 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: were hanging on there, Julian, Thank you for that. And 184 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: there we go. For anyone over eighty that thinks so 185 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: I haven't seen one, well that's the reason. Speak to 186 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: your GP bulk billet. Perfect, Good on your. 187 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:01,599 Speaker 2: Julian, not a problem. Thank thank you. 188 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: Julian Wigant, CEO Bow Cancer, Australian