Low bowel cancer screening rates among multicultural communities

Bowel cancer tests and operations dropped by 50 per cent during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, new data from Cancer Australia shows

Colon cancer (tumor on the caecum and ileocolic valve). Visualisation on a radial CT scan. Source: Universal Images Group Editorial

Cancer Australia, the Federal Government's peak health body, has found tests for colorectal, breast and skin cancers have significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new report, released on Monday evening showed there was a 55 per cent decrease in colonoscopies between March and June.

In the same time period, there was a 37 per cent drop in imaging procedures for the detection of breast cancer and non-surgical treatments for skin cancers dropped 30 per cent.

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