ROTARY Hamilton has encouraged everyone to get a subsidised $25 Bowelscan kit from James Dean Pharmacy in the month of May as part of the National Bowel Cancer Awareness Month campaign. 

Bowel cancer affects about one in 20 people but can be curable if caught early.

Rotary Hamilton public image director, Lorraine Wilson, said the Rotary Bowelscan program provided low cost and easy to use testing kits to anyone to help detect cancer earlier.

“One of our Rotarians, Ian Black, was grateful for the detection of early-stage bowel cancer from a simple test which saved him from more major treatment,” she said.

“This is an annual project that we proudly support because we know it helps save lives.”

Eligible Australians aged 50 to 74 are mailed a free test done at home every two years through the National Bowelscan Screening program but for anyone outside that age group the Rotary Bowelscan Kit fills the gap.

Bowelscan testing kits include testing by approved pathologists as well as notification of results to you and your GP.

They are simple and non-invasive and require no food or medication restrictions.

The Bowelscan programme was launched in 1982 by the surgeon Dr Bill Brand in the Rotary Club of Lismore NSW. 

Dr Brand was frustrated by the number of patients referred to him with advanced bowel cancer that could have had a better prognosis if discovered earlier.

Since then, the program has spread to every state in Australia with thousands of people taking the test and hundreds owing their lives to the determination and foresight of Dr Bill Brand and Rotary Clubs around Australia.

Kits are available during the month of May from James Dean Pharmacy on Gray St supported by Rotary Hamilton. They can also be purchased online at rotarybowelscan.com.au