Cancer screening
Find out more about cancer screening and national programs
- National cervical screening program learning modules
- This comprehensive set of online learning modules provide healthcare providers with information on the following areas
- Communicating the importance of screening and test results to patients
- Changes to the National Cervical Screening Program
- Changes to practice and the cervical screening clinical pathway
- This comprehensive set of online learning modules provide healthcare providers with information on the following areas
- Cancer Screening Education for General Practitioners: Bowel, Breast and Cervical
- An all-in-one online hub with the latest, up-to-date information, tools and resources on the three cancer screening programs to support GPs.
- Access critical, up to date information 24/7
- Learn at your own pace
- Earn CPD points
- Ask an expert forum
- An all-in-one online hub with the latest, up-to-date information, tools and resources on the three cancer screening programs to support GPs.
The National Cervical Cancer Screening Program offers a free Cervical Screening Test every 5 years for women aged 25 to 74 years. This test is more effective than the formerly used Pap test, because it detects the human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cervical cell changes, whereas the Pap test looked for cell changes once they had occurred. For most women aged 25-74, their Cervical Screening Test is due 2 years after their last Pap test, and then every 5 years until the age of 74.
Upcoming changes
HealthPathways Sunshine Coast and Gympie provides pathways for bowel cancer follow up and cervical polyps should the cancer screening detect any symptoms.
Bowel cancer is common in Australia, with 1 in 23 people developing the disease in their lifetime. Almost 80 Australians die each week due to bowel cancer. Over 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated if detected in its earliest stage. Screening can detect bowel cancer, but less than 40 per cent of cases are found early.
The national guidelines recommend that everyone from the age of 50 considered to be “average risk” should be screened for bowel cancer.
In Australia the free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program aims to reduce illness and death from bowel cancer by offering people aged 50 to 74 years a free screening test to complete in the privacy of their own home. The Program has been gradually rolled-out, and now all Australians aged 50-74 are invited to participate every two years.
Resources
- Home Test Kit Instruction Brochure
- ‘How to do the test’ Video
- Consumer Information Booklet
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program for patients
- Promoting the Program in General Practice – Info and Tips
- Encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation
- Translated resources
About cancer screening
Cancer screening can detect cancers before any symptoms emerge. Simple screening tests can detect cancer early by looking for particular changes and early signs. Australia has national cancer screening programs for breast, bowel and cervical cancer. Information and resources are available from the Department of Health’s Cancer Screening website.
We work with primary health care providers to increase their capacity to promote cancer screening and support patients to access cancer screening services and initiatives.
Cancer Screening Reports
Last Updated on September 3, 2021.