Government announces lifesaving age reduction in bowel cancer screening tests

Sara-Jayne Edmunds became vegan in an attempt to fix her unrelenting bowel problems. But the cause was much more sinister.

The federal government announced they will be lowering the eligibility age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (‘NBCSP’) from 50 years old to 45 years old – saving the lives of Australians.

From July 1 2024, Australians aged between 45 and 49 will be able to opt in to the NBCSP and receive a free bowel screening test every two years from then on.

The news comes after The Advertiser launched the Too Young For Cancer campaign, raising awareness of the rising number of young people being diagnosed with cancer in Australia and around the world.

For Moana woman Sara-Jayne Edmunds, the changes mean she could have had a free screening test when she needed it most.

Sara-Jayne Edmunds was diagnosed with bowel cancer when she was 46. Picture: Keryn Stevens

When Sara-Jayne noticed a change in her bowel movements in early 2019 she was told she had diverticulitis and decided to become vegan.

“Then one night in the early hours … I noticed I had blood in my stool,” she said.

“I was quite scared and immediately went to my doctor asking for a colonoscopy, however I was told I had a hernia and that it would fix itself.”

After a few weeks, Sara-Jayne wasn’t improving and she decided to see another doctor.

“That doctor saved my life,” she said.

“I was booked in for the colonoscopy on 4 February 2020, also my dad’s birthday and ironically World Cancer Day.

“That was the day I was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer — at the age of 46.”

Sara-Jayne is battling stage four bowel cancer. Picture: Supplied

She noticed blood in her stool but was told by a doctor that it was a hernia and would fix itself. Picture: Supplied

She said “what she thought would be a straightforward colonoscopy turned into one of the worst days of (her) life”.

After a bowel resection and six months of intense chemotherapy, Sara-Jayne found out the cancer had metastasised to her lung, pelvis and spleen.

“The treatment was relentless, the side effects were nothing short of hell,” she said.

Following treatment doctors told Sara-Jayne there was “no evidence of cancer in (her) body anywhere.

“There were no words to express my relief,” she said.

“My sister caught me in her arms as I fell to the ground with tears of joy.”

But heartbreakingly in October 2023 Sara-Jayne began to feel pain in her pelvis.

The cancer had returned and Sara-Jayne was forced to undergo a 13-hour total pelvis exenteration surgery on April 8 2024.

“You spend four weeks in hospital afterwards recovering and learning to walk, sit, stand, all over again,” she said.

“I’m on my recovery journey now, trying to slowly get back to normal life while still learning to do basic human things like walking and sitting.

“I urge everyone to get their symptoms checked out … and please do a bowel screening test, it just might save your life.”

Incidents of bowel cancer in young people has risen 266 per cent in the past three decades in Australia.

“Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia but it doesn’t have to be,” Nick Lee OAM, founder and chair of the Jodi Lee Foundation said.

“That’s because, if detected in the early stages, up to 99 per cent of cases can be successfully treated.”

Eligible Australians aged 45 to 49 will be able to join the NBCSP by requesting their first bowel screening kit at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register Contact Centre on 1800 627 701.

Once people aged 45 to 49 request their first bowel screening test kit, their next kit will be automatically posted to them two years after their last test result – consistent with existing program practice for people aged 50 to 74.