A Cancer Institute NSW campaign is encouraging Aboriginal people to do the bowel screening test, to reduce the impact of bowel cancer and support healthier communities.

Aboriginal men are 1.6 times more likely and Aboriginal women are 1.3 times more likely, to be diagnosed with bowel cancer than non-Aboriginal people.

The There's a Lot We Can Do campaign targets 45 to 64 year olds, with a focus on Aboriginal populations, who have lower bowel screening rates than non-Aboriginal people.

The campaign includes two new GP-led videos featuring trusted community members Dr Tatum Maybir, a proud Dharawal and Wiradjuri Woman, and Dr Ethan Johnson, a proud Muruwari Man. The videos encourage the community to participate in bowel cancer screening, helping detect the disease at an earlier stage when treatment is most effective.

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW CEO, Professor Tracey O'Brien AM said that like many cancers, bowel cancer disproportionately impacts Aboriginal communities.

"We must work in true partnership with Aboriginal people to find ways to support improved cancer screening rates and achieve better outcomes for people with bowel cancer - the second deadliest cancer for Aboriginal people," Professor O'Brien AM said.

"The bowel screening campaign highlights the importance of intergenerational care and championing Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing to improve health outcomes for future generations."

Professor O'Brien said if caught early, bowel cancer can be successfully treated in more than 90 per cent of cases.

"Bowel screening is one of the most powerful ways we can reduce cancer risk. It can detect cancer early, and it can also find the early signs of changes in your bowel that can be removed before they become cancer," Professor O'Brien said.

'It saved my life'

Blake, a Wiradjuri Man, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 50 after doing the bowel screening test. He is urging mob to prioritise their health and do the lifesaving test.

"Once you get the test in the mail, do it - don't throw it out or think I'll do it later, you're playing with fire by waiting, once you have symptoms it can be too late," Blake said.

"I am so grateful I did the bowel screening test, I wouldn't be here if I hadn't. It saved my life."

Young mum Jessica, a Kamilaroi Woman was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year, aged 35 and said screenings are incredibly important in detecting cancer before it spreads.

"I was diagnosed with cancer at stage four, which means that the cancer had already spread throughout my body," Jessica said.

"Cancer screening is really, really important. Please go and see your health worker or go to the medical service, and don't be shame about getting screened because it could save your life."

The campaign will run until 30 June 2026, during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, across mass media channels and targeted media including TV, radio, press, podcasts, outdoor advertising, influencers and social media.

The bowel screening campaign runs alongside the Aboriginal cervical screening campaign, Cervical Screening for Mob. Informed by Aboriginal community members, the campaign encourages Aboriginal women aged 25-74 to screen for themselves and their mob.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is available to anyone aged between 45 and 74 years

The Cancer Institute NSW is committed to achieving health equity for Aboriginal people. Alongside the recently released NSW Aboriginal Cancer Strategy, Caring for Kin and Country, the bowel and cervical screening campaigns highlight what the organisation described as its "commitment to supporting better cancer screening rates and improved cancer outcomes in Aboriginal communities".

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is available to anyone aged between 45 and 74 years and is the easiest way to detect the early signs of bowel cancer.

The risk of bowel cancer increases significantly with age, but people of all ages can get the disease. Anyone experiencing changes in bowel habits, bleeding, fatigue, anaemia or unexplained weight loss should see their GP.

People can reduce their risk of bowel cancer by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, cereals and wholegrains, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active; and by doing the at-home screening test every two years from age 45.

People aged 50 to 74 receive free bowel screening tests to the address they have registered with Medicare. People aged 45 to 49 years need to request their first test kit, and will automatically receive subsequent kits.

More information about bowel cancer screening in NSW is available at Free Bowel Cancer Screening Test Kit - Cancer Institute NSW.