Cancer Council has urged the Indian community to get tested for bowel cancer, in their latest campaign.
“Many Australians die of bowel cancer every week, but most cancers could be cured if we find them early,” the council has said.
“This year, we are asking communities with high rates of bowel cancer to do the test and possibly save their life.
“The South Asian community is growing faster than other Victorian communities, and many people in those communities are the right age to do the bowel cancer test.
“If you are over 50 years old you should be doing the test,” it said.
Charissa Feng, Priority Communities Manager for Cancer Council Victoria, said the message of the campaign is simple: Do the test. It could save your life.
“Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Australia,” Charissa said.
“We asked the community and we heard that people from Sri Lanka and India believe they cannot get bowel cancer. But that is not true, Sri Lankan and Indian people can get bowel cancer and need to do the bowel cancer test to help find this cancer early.”
Bowel cancer is curable if diagnosed early.
“We can find them early if people do the free at-home test. The Australian Government sends the at-home test every two years to the homes of people aged 50-74. Unfortunately, many people don’t do this test and are putting their lives at risk.
“Currently, less than half of the people who receive the test actually do it. We also know that people from the South Asian community participate a lot less than the general Victorian population.”
The council has urged people aged between 50 and 74 to do the free at-home bowel cancer test.
“Bowel cancer can grow even if you feel well, and that is why doing the test is so important – even if you feel fine.”
People have been requested to speak to their doctors for more information.
Information can be availed in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil and Sinhalese by calling 13 14 50.
