Scan test for life

By Kath Gannaway
IF ONLY it were that simple!
Healesville Rotarian’s Bowelscan Program co-ordinator Gaeme Chester has been promoting the Bowelscan message for four years now … “spending just $6 could save your life”.
Last year 132 people in Healesville, 113 in Upper Yarra and 31 in Wandin purchased Bowelscan kits from their local chemists.
The scan detects early signs of bowel cancer.
Sadly, only 80, 52 and 20 people respectively returned the kits for analysis.
“The corresponding message that we have to get out there is that people must follow through by completing the test and, most importantly, returning the kits so any problems can be detected early,” Mr Chester said.
Rotarian, local GP and Bowelscan Program medical co-ordinator Dr Ian Tinney also urged people to pick up a kit saying that every year in Australia there are 12,000 new cases and 5000 deaths from bowel cancer.
Healesville, Upper Yarra and Wandin Rotary clubs are running the program in the Yarra Valley with pharmacies in Healesville, Yarra Glen, Seville, Wandin, Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction and Warburton selling and collecting the kits.
The clubs then arrange to have the kits analysed at a pathology laboratory and the results are mailed direct to the participant by early July.
The program is recommended for all men and woman who are 40 years old and over.
Mr Chester said 12 men and 13 women in the eastern suburbs had life-saving procedures during the past four years.
“People need to do this, not just for themselves, but for the sake of their family and their friends,” Mr Chester said.
“Early detection of bowel cancer gives a 90 per cent chance of being cured.
“But it can only be detected through this program if the analysis is done – simply buying a kit is not the way to go,” he said.
The program runs throughout May and Rotary members will have an information table at the Coles Supermarket foyer in Healesville from 9am to noon each Saturday this month.