Cancer Council Australia has published a quick reference guide to assist GPs and other health
professionals in the screening and surveillance of specific cancers.

The guide provides evidence-based recommendations on which cancers are suitable for population
screening, methods and frequency of screening and whether a government screening program exists.

According to Cancer Council Australia CEO, Professor Ian Olver, in addition to population based
screening of breast and cervical cancer, health professionals should be encouraging patients 50 and
over to screen for bowel cancer using the faecal occult blood test (FOBT).

“We have a National Bowel Cancer Screening Program that is only partially implemented, currently
offering screening only for people turning 50, 55 or 65 years of age,” Professor Olver said.

 

“Until the Government extends this program to everyone 50 and over, which will save up to 30 lives a week, GPs
should encourage their patients to utilise commercial FOBT testing.”

According to the guidelines, most women aged between 50 to 69 should have a mammogram every two
years, and all women aged over 18 and who have commenced sexual activity should have a Pap test
every two years. However, women over 70 who have had two normal Pap tests in the last five years do
not require further tests.

While the evidence does not support population based screening of ovarian, prostate, testicular and lung
cancers or melanoma, advice is provided on screening in specific cases involving high risk groups.

“An estimated 115,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year,” Professor Olver
said.

 

“About one third of cancer deaths could be prevented through lifestyle changes and early detection,
which highlights the crucial role GPs play in cancer prevention.”

Cancer Council is distributing the guidelines to GPs and specialists nationally in August. They are also
available online at http://www.cancer.org.au/screeningguide